“It's very important in my life to keep the head up and keep practising, keep doing what I know to do. That's was the key to have this moment right now the last two weeks, in Rome and in here.”
Roland-Garros 2018 was the last time Schwartzman featured in the last eight in Paris. He captivated Court Philippe-Chatrier, when he took the first set from Nadal before his challenge faded.
This time he’ has earned another blockbuster quarter-final, facing his close friend Dominic Thiem.
Schwartman is well aware how close the recent US Open champion was to the exit door in five sets against French wild card Hugo Gaston.
“Yeah, I saw the fifth in the bike, the last four or five games, was an amazing match. You know, impressive game from Hugo Gaston after the first two sets. Yeah, after that I was in the bike stretching. After that Domi arrived, and we were kidding, ‘OK, this is the last time we talk [to] each other until Tuesday,” Schwartzman said with a grin.
“He was joking, going to hit me, in my legs but nothing happened.”