By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Diego Schwartzman stepped onto the court for a highly anticipated showdown against seventh-seeded Nicolas Jarry at the Argentina Open in Buenos Aires. Despite being in his final professional tournament, the former World No. 8 is poised to embrace a new chapter in his life.
However, when the stakes are high and he’s playing on the beloved red clay of Argentina, you can never count him out.
Displaying his trademark grit and determination, the 32-year-old Schwartzman delivered a thrilling performance, triumphing over Jarry with a score of 7-6(10), 4-6, 6-3, thereby extending his career and securing a second-round match against Spain’s Pedro Martinez.
“Honestly, I expected to lose,” said a jubilant Schwartzman post-match. “I thought I would shed some tears and embrace the emotion of my farewell, but I never anticipated this victory.”
It was a challenging outing for Jarry, who racked up 79 unforced errors. However, much credit goes to Schwartzman for his relentless play, continuously pushing Jarry to earn every point during the nearly three-hour contest.
Fueled by an enthusiastic crowd of Argentinian fans, Schwartzman fended off three set points in a nail-biting tiebreak of the first set. After Jarry took the second set, Schwartzman reclaimed momentum, securing the only break in the final set at 4-2 and holding strong to wrap up the match. This victory marked his 18th win in Buenos Aires and his 251st overall on the ATP tour.
Having announced his retirement earlier last year and already bidding farewell at the Grand Slams, Schwartzman had not played since the US Open. Yet, he chose to accept a wild card to compete in Buenos Aires, where he wanted to conclude his illustrious career—a venue steeped in profound significance for him.
Schwartzman clinched the title in Buenos Aires in 2021 and reached the final the following year. His journey began in the Buenos Aires main draw back in 2013.
Young Star Fonseca Shines on Debut
On a day filled with excitement, the highly-touted 18-year-old Joao Fonseca captured attention by defeating Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry 6-3, 6-3. This win positions him for a second-round encounter against fellow Argentine Federico Coria.
With this victory, Fonseca has become the youngest player to secure a match win in Buenos Aires since 2004, and the third-youngest in the tournament’s history. His impressive form continued as he dominated the court, landing a flurry of winners against the World No. 44.
