There was a gap galaxy on the clay of Buenos Aires this Saturday. Diego Schwartzman, 15th in the world, faced a young Belarusian who was still a junior. Daniil Ostapenkov is 18 and he is expected to haunt the Argentine for some time. Schwartzman did not exist in this meeting, until finding himself behind 6-4, 4-0. The South American, released in the round of 16 of the US Open, tried to save face, but ended up losing in two dry sets on his land (6-4, 6-3). “I did everything wrong. I played well below my level. If I knew my opponent? No, I had no information about him, ”he confessed. Ostapenkov is in fact not yet classified at ATP. The Belarusian, 63rd in the world among young people, has for only reference in the big leagues, a match played last year, against the German Dominik Koepfer,there also in Davis Cup. The outcome was much less festive for the young player who lost 6-0, 6-2.
18-year-old Belarusian Daniil Ostapenkov is yet to play a professional tennis match at any level.
He just shocked world No. 15 Diego Schwartzman in straight sets in Argentina.
It's been a wild September for teenage underdogs in tennis 🤯 # DavisCup pic.twitter.com/6L4cx1CcPl
- Davis Cup (@DavisCup) September 18, 2021
“I have no excuse,” Schwartzman lamented at a press conference. The winner, it was difficult to realize: "I do not play like that on the junior circuit", he admitted. “Today was different, a special game. I hope to be able to be at this level again during the next tournament. Schwartzman and Argentina play this weekend for a place to try to reach the finals of the 2022 Davis Cup. the Argentine now relies on his compatriot, Guido Pella, 82nd in the ATP ranking. The Argentinian must also play a youngster, 42nd in the world among juniors. The 2021 edition of the Davis Cup will take place from November 25 to December 5 in Turin, Innsbruck and Madrid, but without the South American team.