Schwartzman loses to Djokovic in five-set French Open epic

Diego Schwartzman’s French Open is over after he was beaten in five sets by Novak Djokovic on Friday afternoon.

Played out in front of a packed Philippe-Chatrier Court, the match which lasted for more than three hours, saw the Argentine leading the match 2-1, but ultimately his lack of experience cost him what would have been his most famous victory.

The first set saw both players exchanged service games, before took control as he raced into a 4-1 lead. However, the set swung back in Schwartzman’s favour as he pulled back level at 4-4. Another hold of serve each then saw the Argentine break again, before he just about managed to hold his nerve, converting his fifth set point to take the early advantage.

Djokovic seems to be back on his game in the second set, taking it 6-3, spurrning five break points in the process, before serving out by holding to love, but Schwartzman showed great battling qualities in the third. Going to serve at 4-3, he broke the Serb again, before serving out to go  two sets to one up.

The fourth set followed the same pattern as the second with Djokovic dominating, only this time it was more realistically reflected in the score line as he raced into a 4-0 lead. Schwartzman, a double-break behind, earned one back of his own, though was broken again leaving to Djokovic to serve out for the set – which he duly did.

Serving first in the fifth and deciding set – Schwartzman having only played three five set matches in his life – with one of them being two matches ago in the first round – Djokovic broke the 24-year-old’s first game, before holding his own to go 2-0 up.

Schwartzman did then hold his next service game – winning just his second game of the previous ten, but Djokovic consolidated to lead 3-1. Showing signs of fatigue, just as much mentally as physically, Djokovic broke again to go 4-1 up.

Things got even worse for Schwartzman when he needed the trainer on court, and soon after the resumption of play, he found himself 5-1 down. Serving to stay in the match, Djokovic found himself with two match points, the first of which he converted with a brilliant backhand, leaving Schwartzman last act on the court to walk off it to a standing ovation.