Luciana Aranguiz
03/07/2021 18:15
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 03/07/2021 18:31
Diego Schwartzman broke down minutes after sealing that 6-1 and 6-2 against
Francisco Cerúndolo,
who consecrated him champion of the
ATP of Buenos Aires
.
Tears welled up in his eyes and it was difficult for him to articulate the words during the interview that he still gave on the court, with his heart rate still at a thousand.
And it was no wonder, because Peque had to wait a long time to win his first title in Argentina.
In the end he succeeded and had no problem letting himself be overcome by emotion.
"This is impressive," he said and had to take a few seconds to compose himself.
"I ended up crying last year because of the injury and now also a little bit. It's hard when you lose at home. It happened to me last week in Córdoba and for many I was the worst person in the country. Today I'm very happy, I really wanted to play well ".
Established in the top 10 since last year, Schwartzman came to Argentina's brick dust tournaments more favorite than ever.
Since he landed in Córdoba, everyone has spoken that this year he would finally be able to shout champion for the first time in the country.
But in that first stop of the South American slow court tour, he lost in his debut against Spanish
Albert Ramos Viñolas
in a very weak game on his part.
🇦🇷 2004 - Guillermo Coria
🇦🇷 2005 - Gaston Gaudio
🇦🇷 2007 - Juan Monaco
🇦🇷 2008 - David Nalbandian
🇦🇷 2021 - @dieschwartzman 🙌 # ArgOpen2021 pic.twitter.com/VSfXZcjpRI
- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 7, 2021
In Buenos Aires he was able to turn history around.
Because he played at a very high level and enjoyed a lot on the court.
And he shouted champion without giving up sets, with triumphs against the Slovakian
Lukas Klein
, the Spanish
Jaume Munar
, the Serbian
Miomir Kecmanovic
and this Sunday the oldest of the Cerúndolo.
Thus, he took over a title that he had been looking for a long time and that had been elusive.
In Buenos Aires he had played seven times in the past.
His best result had been achieved in 2019, when he fell in the last game against Italian
Marco Cecchinato
.
Last year, he started well, but he tore his left adductor in his quarterfinal match against
Pablo Cuevas
and was unable to appear for the semis.
That hurt a lot.
Nor had he been able to lift the trophy before his people in Córdoba.
In three participations, his best performance was the 2020 final, in which he lost to Chilean
Cristian Garín
.
But in this 2021 edition of the Buenos Aires contest, especially due to the coronavirus protocols, he finally indulged.
A story worthy of Disney + 💫
The moment Buenos Aires native @dieschwartzman won the @ArgentinaOpen, at last 🏆 # ArgOpen2021 pic.twitter.com/mPLirhOKCu
- Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 7, 2021
"This is the most beautiful title of all the ones I won," said who had already been crowned in Istanbul 2016, Rio de Janeiro 2018 and Los Cabos 2019. "Since I was little I came to watch the tournament. I watched the games from the elbow where my friends were or from somewhere else. Somehow I always came in, sometimes I sneaked in. Winning it is very good. "
"I don't have many words, just a lot of emotion and happiness. When the ball went and the game was over, I didn't know what to do. I had thought before the final what to do if I won, throw myself to the ground, jump, hug, throw the racket ... It only occurred to me to raise my hands, "he commented between laughter.
And while getting the trophy was exciting, he didn't feel like a weight was lifted.
"I didn't feel like I had a heavy backpack on me. The backpack there belonged to others, those who saw me as forced to win the tournament, when in reality it is very hard to win every game. I always enjoy playing here, so it's all happiness" .