Roland-Garros: Schwartzman through to last 16 for the third year in a row

Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman became the first male player to reach the fourth round at the 2022 Roland–Garros Championships on Friday, after a straight sets win over former world No 3 Grigor Dimitrov.

The 15th seeded Schwartzman needed just two hours and 16 minutes to defeat the No 18 seeded Dimitrov 6-3, 6-1, 6-2.

The Argentine earned an incredible 20 break point opportuities on Dimitrov’s serve, converting eight times, while losing his own serve on just two occasions (out of nine break point chances that Dimitrov earned).

This was only Schwartzman’s second win over Dimitrov in five career meetings, and snapped a three-match losing streak to the Bulgarian.

Schwartzman wants tickets for the Champion’s League final

Despite the score, Schwartzman made it clear that the match was a battle to his eyes. “It was a very difficult match against Grigor. I was very focused, two hours or more, I don’t know how long I played. But I was totally focused, not thinking how he was doing today or how many mistakes he was doing. I was just focused how to play and how to beat him today. “

But the best part of his press conference came when he was asked about his plans before the Champion’s League final between Real Madrid and Liverpool on Saturday, due to happen in Saint-Denis, 15 kilometers from Roland-Garros. “That’s a chance to ask who have tickets for me. So Roland-Garros, please ask for tickets for tomorrow. I know you can do it (smiling). President of Roland-Garros, president of the Federation, please”

A former world No 8, Schwartzman is through to the fourth round in Paris for the third year in a row and for the fourth time in his career. The Argentine, who came from two-sets-to-love down in the previous round, is 3-0 in fourth round matches at Roland-Garros so far in his career, reaching the quarter-finals 2018 and 2021 and the semi-finals in 2020.

If he wants to improve that mark to 4-0, he will have to defeat wither world No 1 Novak Djokovic or Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene, who play later on Friday.

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