The two time Roland Garros finalist says goodbye
The qualifying week of the Grand Slam saw two players playing their last Roland Garros, namely Dominic Thiem and Diego Schwartzman. The two had paired up for a doubles team and played at the Argentina Open last year, where they had received a wildcard and got knocked out in the first round against the Argentine pair of Facundo Bagnis and Sebstian Baez, 7–5, 6–4.
The Austrian, has been the finalist for two consecutive years, 2018 and 2019. It came as a disappointment to the tennis fans around the world that Dominic Thiem was not given a wild card in the main draw, and instead had to play the qualifiers, where he got knocked out in the second round, against Otto Virtanen, from Finland, 6–2, 7–5. The Finnish lost the next round but got himself into the main draw as a lucky loser against another Austrian, world number 243, Filip Misolic.
Schwartzman made an offer to Thiem to team up for the doubles, and they have confirmed to play together for Erste Bank Open in October this year. To their records is a marathon match they played against each other at the 2020 edition of the Roland Garros in the quarter-finals, which was the 9th meeting between them, and was the third victory for the Argentine. The match lasted for 5:08 hours and the competition was neck-to-neck until the 4th set, resulting in the final score of 7–6(1), 5–7, 6–7(8), 7–6(5), 6–2, and it was an anticipated match as Thiem had been the finalist for the previous two years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KskgXivn4Lk
Thiem was given a souvenir at the end of his last match at Roland Garros at the Suzanne Lenglen Court. On the same court and the same day Schwartzman lost his second round qualifying match to a Frenchman Quentin Halys, 4–6, 6–4, 7–6(7).
“It was such a great farewell from Roland-Garros so thank you to everyone who came who gave me such a great support, such a great atmosphere,” said Thiem, as he bid a goodbye.
“There’s a special relationship with this tournament. I played the final in the juniors and then I slowly built a great relationship with the tournament.”
“It’s a relationship with all of you guys — all of the fans. I had so many great results and great memories and experiences here on the courts.
“It’s the Grand Slam with my best results so I’ve really enjoyed every year of it. Thank you so much for all the memories.
“They will last a lifetime.”
The 30-year old announced it on social media that he was going to call it a career soon.
He won 17 titles in his career, including the US Open 2020. His prolonged wrist injury has been a perpetual obstacle, while he was a gritty and hardworking player.
