ATP Cup: Diego Schwartzman stuns Stefanos Tsitsipas, seals tie for Argentina

On the back of defeating Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in his opening ATP Cup match, the World No.13 rallied from a set-and-a-break down against Tsitsipas.

Diego Schwartzman in a file photo; Credit: Twitter@ATPCup
By Karthik Raman | Jan 3, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Diego Schwartzman registered the third Top 5 win of his career, stunning World No.4 Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 at ATP Cup to seal Argentina’s victory against Greece in Group D. On the back of defeating Georgia’s Nikoloz Basilashvili in his opening ATP Cup match, the World No.13 fought back from a set-and-a-break down against Tsitsipas on Ken Rosewall Arena. He completed his comeback after two hours and 42 minutes. Schwartzman, who is making his third ATP Cup appearance this week, now holds a 4-4 singles record at the tournament. Wednesday’s clash will be interesting, as Argentina take on Poland in a deciding Group D showdown. The winner from that match will advance to the semi-finals. 

Schwartzman now leads Tsitsipas 2-1 in their ATP Head-2-Head series. “I was just trying to think that it was his first match for two months after his elbow [injury], so I was thinking just to try and be in the match,” Schwartzman said in his on-court interview. “I had the chance and I think I was ready. I am very happy because playing against Stefanos and being a set-and-a-break down is not easy, but I found a way.”

In a tightly-contested first, the Greek looked to be in ascendency over Schwartzman, as he started to dictate play with his heavy topspin forehand. Tsitsipas squandered three set points on the Argentine’s serve at 6-5. But, he eventually clinched the 63-minute opener in the tie-break.

Schwartzman fights back

Breaks were exchanged early in the second set between them. However, Schwartzman continued to exert pressure on return and it finally paid off in the eighth game of the set. The 29-year-old converted his fourth break point of the game, as he saw out the set. With momentum on his side, Schwartzman did well to capture the third set, ensuring Argentina maintained its perfect record in Sydney.

“It was a crazy atmosphere,” Schwartzman added. “A lot of people tonight from Greece, Argentina and Australia. It is very nice to have people watching from our countries. Playing ATP Cup under our flag it is a very nice feeling.”

Earlier, Federico Delbonis defeated Michail Pervolarakis 7-6, 6-1 to give Argentina a 1-0 lead against Greece. “Michail impressed me a lot,” Delbonis said in his on-court interview. “Especially in the first set when he tried to push his backhand to my forehand and on every forehand, he tried to go to the net and I was a bit uncomfortable with that. But I took that first set. I am very happy to take a bit of the pressure off Diego.”





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