Although Diego is short by comparison to most on tour, he packs a punch bigger than his size would suggest. And importantly he is a better than good tennis player. 2017 proves that.
Still, today against Nadal he would need to play above himself to book a quarter final.
The opening games were shared with no breaks and Schwartzman was the one who served aces.
2-2 and no breaks - Diego had served 5 aces already - none to Rafa.
Rafa saved the first break point of the match to lead 3-2.
Schwartzman served a love game to level at 3-3.
Nadal needed to save three break points in the seventh game, and as an elite player he did, and won the game to lead 4-3.
From 0-30, Diego fought back to game point but he couldn’t convert it.
He saved three break points but not a fourth and Nadal was a game away from the set.
A love game and the top seed led 6-3.
Schwartzman led 40-15 in the first game of set two but again couldn’t convert - he once more saved three of four break chances but Nadal used the fourth and broke for 1-0.
The unthinkable happened immediately when Nadal committed an unforced error and had break point against him.
Schwartzman’s forehand levelled things at 1-1.
The two both held serve without drama, then Nadal drew blood in the fifth game, Schwartzman gifting some mistakes from his forehand side.
3-2 to the top seed,
Schwartzman broke back for 4-4, Nadal sharing his mistakes on both wings.
In game 11, the second break point caused sadness for the Argentine as Rafa cashed in and took a 6-5 lead.
Serving for the set the world number one blew his chance as Diego converted the second of two break chances.and a tie break was required.
Each player lost points on serve but at first change of ends it was on serve 3-3.
At 4-4 Schwartzman hit a backhand winner and Nadal had two serves to come.
He made a mess of a forehand which gave a set point to Diego, then he stuffed up a backhand and Schwartzman won the set 7-6(4): the first one dropped by Nadal in the tournament.
Still coming to terms with losing set two, Rafa struggled to hold serve in the opening game of the third set, saving two break points in so doing.
Diego’s love game levelled but Rafa broke him to love in the fourth game.
Consolidating his break, the lead was 4-1.
Schwartzman hit an ace and two winners and stuck close at 2-4, but Nadal only lost one more point on serve for the rest of the set, serving it out with 2 aces in the last couple of points. 6-3 6-7(4) 6-3 and back in control.
Nadal led 40-15 in the second game of set four before he had to stave off three break points - he managed to and Diego was disappointed to see 1-1 on the scoreboard.
Especially so when from 40-30 he was broken by Nadal in the very next game.
Rafa held for 3-1, and Schwartzman saved two break points to be at 3-4 a little later.
Nadal saved two break points with an ace and a forehand winner and eventually won the eighth game to lead 5-3.
Diego served, trying to stay in the match, and he saved two match points.
He then wasted two game points, and when a third chance to win the match presented itself, Nadal hit a backhand winner.
6-3 6-7(4) 6-3 6-3.
A great contest given by Schwartzman.
Nadal through to the quarter finals and battle Marin Cilic (6).
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