ATP Firsts: Diego Schwartzman

Diego Schwartzman has had the best year of his career in 2017. Pick and choose your milestones to celebrate: career-high Emirates ATP Ranking of No. 25; his first Grand Slam quarter-final, at the US Open; and his third ATP World Tour final (Antwerp, l. to Tsonga).

In the midst of another possible run, this week at the Rolex Paris Masters, the 5’7” Argentine took time to talk with ATPWorldTour.com about what he bought to celebrate a big win at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the time he asked his good friend Rafael Nadal literally for the shirt off his back.

First pinch-me moment on the ATP World Tour
I think when I won my first [ATP] Challenger. It was in Buenos Aires. That moment was amazing for me, with my family. I didn’t expect that moment at that time. I was playing the Challengers but I had never made it past the quarter-finals. In Buenos Aires, it was my first Challenger final, and I won the Challenger. It was amazing for me. That moment I started to think, ‘OK, I am doing well and I can do it better’.

First time I was recognised
The first time was in Buenos Aires… But then I think the past two years around the world, I have improved my tennis a lot, I have improved my ranking and I think people know more about me… This year people recognise me a little bit more… Maybe one year and a half ago or two years ago now, I’d go to the tournament entrances and there would be one more person there. Now it’s a little bit different… I like, I like. I think it’s good it’s because you are doing well.

First thing I bought with prize money
I don’t remember what was the first thing, but I remember in 2015 Indian Wells, after I beat Jerzy Janowicz, 7-6 in the third set (in the first round). Before the match I said to my coach, ‘If I win this match I am going to buy a computer and headphones’. And I won 7-6 in the third and the next day I went to the store and bought the computer and headphones… Beats headphones, black, the big ones and a Macbook Air.

Read More: Schwartzman Wins ATP Challenger Tour Finals

First autograph/photo I got
Football players, always. Ha, ha. I ask football players to take a picture with me. I love football. I watch football every day… Here in tennis, I am a little bit scared to ask for a photo… If I have confidence, I ask Sock, Ferrer, Nadal, Federer. I am always trying to take a picture with them but it’s not easy to ask… Ferrer I took photos with this year and I put on my Instagram. Rafa after Monte-Carlo in the quarter-finals this year I asked for the shirt he wore during the match and for him to sign the shirt, and I have it in my room, his shirt on the wall… He was playing with a pink shirt and I asked after our match, I have confidence with him… We have a good relationship, same language, friends in common… [I asked] in the locker rooms.

First pet
Lole, she was black and white, a Cocker Spaniel. That was a few years ago. Now we have one from the street. We were in the street with Lole, and this new one, a small one, came to us and we took it and it’s in our home now… The new one is Peque. It’s like me. My nickname, it’s Peque. In Argentina, everyone calls me Peque. It’s like little or small one, and I named the dog Peque.

When I am at home, Peque comes to me at night in the bed, sleeps with me. We are always joking at home with the dog. My parents had a dog at home and I also like to have that company. It’s nice.