Jewish tennis star Diego Schwartzman announces retirement at 31, ranking 142

• Published date: 07 May 2024
• Author: JUAN MELAMED/JTA
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

The 31-year-old Argentine star, who currently sits at No. 142 in the Association of Tennis Professionals men's rankings, shared the news on Instagram, calling it a "very difficult decision."

"Every corner of the court, every second training, every point competing, every moment I was immensely happy," Schwartzman wrote in Spanish. "I lived it with such intensity that today it is difficult for me to maintain. All those beautiful moments have become something that today carries weight and it is difficult for me to continue fully enjoying it."

Schwartzman, who peaked at No. 8 in the rankings in 2020, has won four ATP titles in his career: the 2016 Istanbul Open, the 2018 Rio Open, the 2019 Los Cabos Open and the 2021 Argentina Open. Schwartzman also reached the semifinals in the 2020 French Open and two quarterfinals in US Open Grand Slams in 2017 and 2019.

Schwartzman, who has 250 career singles victories, is affectionately known as "El Peque," or "Shorty" in Spanish. Officially listed at 5-foot-7, Schwartzman in 2020 became the shortest man to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since fellow Jewish player Harold Solomon, who is one inch shorter, at the 1980 French Open.

Tennis star and inspiration

In December 2021, the Hacoaj Jewish sports club in the Tigre district of Buenos Aires inaugurated a new tennis complex and named the central court after Schwartzman, who had gotten his start at the club.

"I'm very happy because I started playing tennis here," Schwartzman told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency at the event. "I'm very grateful to be...