The painful downfall of Diego Schwartzman

Fabresque

Fabresque

Legend
In his last 10 tournaments, Mr. Schwartzman has lost his opening round match 9 times. 9/10. This streak stretches back to Vienna of last season. He most recently lost to Nicolas Jarry in the first round of Santiago.

He’s currently live ranked as #38 in the world, and is turning 31 this year. Diego himself has admitted that it’s not been going good at all. His fathers illness has bogged him down mentally and physically he can’t bring himself to perform at a high level.

A former top 10 player, he’s had numerous classic matches vs Djokodal over the years, and he’s a very nice guy as well. It’s been a difficult downfall to watch. Where next for Diego?

48d6cfd0-ebef-11ea-9f36-6bc26297feaa
 

DIEGO SCHWARTZMAN in a rut

According to a well up voted youtube post Diego said that he knows his level is very low right now and that not even with the support from the crowd he could find a way to win today which is sad, especially when he plays at home. “I’m trying to find an explanation of why this is happening, my...
tt.tennis-warehouse.com tt.tennis-warehouse.com
 
Obviously he's done really well to make it as far as he has but with his style even a loss of 1/4 step will be tough to overcome and he's already over 30.
 
Fabresque said:
In his last 10 tournaments, Mr. Schwartzman has lost his opening round match 9 times. 9/10. This streak stretches back to Vienna of last season. He most recently lost to Nicolas Jarry in the first round of Santiago.

He’s currently live ranked as #38 in the world, and is turning 31 this year. Diego himself has admitted that it’s not been going good at all. His fathers illness has bogged him down mentally and physically he can’t bring himself to perform at a high level.

A former top 10 player, he’s had numerous classic matches vs Djokodal over the years, and he’s a very nice guy as well. It’s been a difficult downfall to watch. Where next for Diego?

48d6cfd0-ebef-11ea-9f36-6bc26297feaa
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His friend Thiem is also going through the same situation.
8 out of 9 matches lost since Vienna.
Time really flies, not too long ago were these two producing an electric final at Vienna
 
Rafa4LifeEver said:
His friend Thiem is also going through the same situation.
8 out of 9 matches lost since Vienna.
Time really flies, not too long ago were these two producing an electric final at Vienna
Click to expand...
No point mopping about it. They need to get their form back as soon as possible. Look in the mirror and ask what they can do better, and do it.
 
Rosstour said:
Like the ultimate alpha, PETE, did at the same age?
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Dude,
how many times will you have to be told that during Pete's time age 31 was like 36 is now ?
It is called Great Age Shift, a theory which was floated by Ivan Lendl and also proven by the increasing number of players in top 100 who were 31+, 20 years ago and the current numbers are significantly different.
Pete had a very long career at the highest level for his era. His 1st and Last slam were separated by 12 years, it was the highest gap in the open era only surpassed by Big 3 (Nadal on 17, Djokovic on 15 and Federer on 14.5).
 
I look forward to the day soon that Diego rights his ship and beats down a few more "long leggeds." I love to watch him when his game and body are working well.
 
With all due respect to short people, I wonder if their smaller frames mean greater mileage earlier. They have to strain their bodies more to hit as hard as their taller counterparts, and also probably cover more ground on average because of their usual play styles.

Hewitt, Chang and Nishikori e.g. aren't exactly known for being durable (although Hewitt and Nishikori are more like average in terms of height among normal people, but in tennis they are considered short)
 
Clay lover said:
With all due respect to short people, I wonder if their smaller frames mean greater mileage earlier. They have to strain their bodies more to hit as hard as their taller counterparts, and also probably cover more ground on average because of their usual play styles.

Hewitt, Chang and Nishikori e.g. aren't exactly known for being durable (although Hewitt and Nishikori are more like average in terms of height among normal people, but in tennis they are considered short)
Click to expand...

On top of that Schwartzman hardly ever gets free points. His serve it's even bad by WTA standards. But other than his height, Argentine tennis coaching is to blame here. There's no emphasis on the serve whatsoever when developing players.
 
Clay lover said:
With all due respect to short people, I wonder if their smaller frames mean greater mileage earlier. They have to strain their bodies more to hit as hard as their taller counterparts, and also probably cover more ground on average because of their usual play styles.

Hewitt, Chang and Nishikori e.g. aren't exactly known for being durable (although Hewitt and Nishikori are more like average in terms of height among normal people, but in tennis they are considered short)
Click to expand...

Mileage is worse though when you carry around 20lbs more, I guess.
I don't think that is Diego's problem, but it's that his playing style just needs full mental readiness. He has to fight for every ball and involve the opponent in a dog fight, that's how he will win matches.

When you're not there 100 % and struggle with life, you just are not ready to do this.
If you're living off your fight and that's what you loose, no bueno
 
Had a solid career despite his diminutive size. Still not in Chang's league though, never mind an ATG like Rosewall.
 
I'm so disappoint his GF photos haven't been posted yet in this thread.
 
Mainad said:
Always liked the popular rhyming couplet about him:

"Vincent Spadea........he ain't afraid of ya!" :p
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Such a weird 1999 for Spadea. He starts it by making the Australian Open QF, beating Agassi (who would go on to win the French and U.S. Opens) and closes it by starting the longest losing streak in ATP history. Of course, there was a silver lining as Spadea would later bounce back to a career high ranking and his only ATP title.
 
Fabresque said:
In his last 10 tournaments, Mr. Schwartzman has lost his opening round match 9 times. 9/10. This streak stretches back to Vienna of last season. He most recently lost to Nicolas Jarry in the first round of Santiago.

He’s currently live ranked as #38 in the world, and is turning 31 this year. Diego himself has admitted that it’s not been going good at all. His fathers illness has bogged him down mentally and physically he can’t bring himself to perform at a high level.

A former top 10 player, he’s had numerous classic matches vs Djokodal over the years, and he’s a very nice guy as well. It’s been a difficult downfall to watch. Where next for Diego?

48d6cfd0-ebef-11ea-9f36-6bc26297feaa
Click to expand...
Didn't know father is ill. I know family had hard time to provide Diego money for practice & travel until he started to earn by himself. Must be tough for for him dealing with it.
 
Clay lover said:
With all due respect to short people, I wonder if their smaller frames mean greater mileage earlier. They have to strain their bodies more to hit as hard as their taller counterparts, and also probably cover more ground on average because of their usual play styles.

Hewitt, Chang and Nishikori e.g. aren't exactly known for being durable (although Hewitt and Nishikori are more like average in terms of height among normal people, but in tennis they are considered short)
Click to expand...

As a 5'9" who would be considered "short" in pro tennis, 100% agree. In my I'd have had to be so intense on the wannnabe kick serves & movement that I would have been farked. One of the many reasons I push for having some tournaments with only one attempt being allowed when serving :p Not for me but for all the super talented people who we don't get to see at the top level for as long due to height.

But it doesn't really explain why Diego is at such a lower level than he was before because his not complaining of injuries & he's no shorter than he was before.
 
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crimson87 said:
On top of that Schwartzman hardly ever gets free points. His serve it's even bad by WTA standards. But other than his height, Argentine tennis coaching is to blame here. There's no emphasis on the serve whatsoever when developing players.
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I wouldn't say "bad" by WTA standards but compared to a GOAT like Ash Barty who served at basically the same speed despite being a couple of inches shorter, you have a point. But if he tried to hit it harder he'd increase the risk of an injury. Ash has a shoulder injury and serving at that speed probably didn't help when it came to her longevity in the game. Many other women have also injured shoulders and ended their careers, so it's not as simply as Diego not having enough serve training. There is basically nothing wrong with his serve technique except that he's not getting his arm back as far as some players to generate more power which might cause an injury for him anyway (& reduce safety over the net).

Honestly I was a bit annoyed when commentators do this. Everyone has a different body with different limitations.

"Korda should just hit it hard like Mark Philippoussis!"
Later that week: Korda injures wrist from hitting serves too hard.
 
jm1980 said:
LOL no, not even close
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Not close to "bad", but the same speed as Ash's who is shorter. But that may be necessary to prevent injury. I wouldn't say there's anything "wrong" with his technique for the force he's hitting it at which may be the max sustainable for him.
 
Clay lover said:
With all due respect to short people, I wonder if their smaller frames mean greater mileage earlier. They have to strain their bodies more to hit as hard as their taller counterparts, and also probably cover more ground on average because of their usual play styles.

Hewitt, Chang and Nishikori e.g. aren't exactly known for being durable (although Hewitt and Nishikori are more like average in terms of height among normal people, but in tennis they are considered short)
Click to expand...
How do you think Rosewall and Laver would have done if they had been born half a century later?
:unsure:
 
First time I saw Diego live was on Court 3 at IW 2015. He was playing Jersey Janowics who was very good at the time. Diego won 7-6 in the 3rd after being down mini breaks against the 6'6" JJ. What a great match, the crowd was going nuts.
I was sitting at court level and was blown away at Diego's speed, I had never seen a player so fast. JJ was dropshotting Diego (!) which didn't turn out so well lol. Also whatever they list him as, Diego is shorter.
I became a lifelong Diego fan that day.

 
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