Schwartzman loses to Djokovic in five-set French Open epic
Argentine defeated in dramatic match against the World number two at Roland Garros.
Andrew Sherwood is the Jewish News Sport and Community Editor
Diego Schwartzman’s French Open is over after he was beaten in five sets by Novak Djokovic on Friday afternoon.
Played out in front of a packed Philippe-Chatrier Court, the match which lasted for more than three hours, saw the Argentine leading the match 2-1, but ultimately his lack of experience cost him what would have been his most famous victory.
The first set saw both players exchanged service games, before took control as he raced into a 4-1 lead. However, the set swung back in Schwartzman’s favour as he pulled back level at 4-4. Another hold of serve each then saw the Argentine break again, before he just about managed to hold his nerve, converting his fifth set point to take the early advantage.
Djokovic seems to be back on his game in the second set, taking it 6-3, spurrning five break points in the process, before serving out by holding to love, but Schwartzman showed great battling qualities in the third. Going to serve at 4-3, he broke the Serb again, before serving out to go two sets to one up.
The fourth set followed the same pattern as the second with Djokovic dominating, only this time it was more realistically reflected in the score line as he raced into a 4-0 lead. Schwartzman, a double-break behind, earned one back of his own, though was broken again leaving to Djokovic to serve out for the set – which he duly did.
Serving first in the fifth and deciding set – Schwartzman having only played three five set matches in his life – with one of them being two matches ago in the first round – Djokovic broke the 24-year-old’s first game, before holding his own to go 2-0 up.
Schwartzman did then hold his next service game – winning just his second game of the previous ten, but Djokovic consolidated to lead 3-1. Showing signs of fatigue, just as much mentally as physically, Djokovic broke again to go 4-1 up.
Things got even worse for Schwartzman when he needed the trainer on court, and soon after the resumption of play, he found himself 5-1 down. Serving to stay in the match, Djokovic found himself with two match points, the first of which he converted with a brilliant backhand, leaving Schwartzman last act on the court to walk off it to a standing ovation.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
