Quote of the Day: Retiring Diego Schwartzman's emotional US Open sign-off

NEW YORK—Is someone cutting onions in Queens?

It was an emotional opening day at the US Open, which started with 2020 champion Dominic Thiem waving farewell to tennis. And the tears just kept coming, after Argentina’s Diego Schwartzman also played his final Grand Slam match on Monday.

Up against Gael Monfils, Schwartzman rallied fans on Grandstand as he took the opening set in a tiebreak, but ran out of steam as the Frenchman closed out a 6-7 (2), 6-2, 6-2, 6-1 victory—marking the end of Schwartzman’s major career.

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Schwartzman, who peaked at world No. 8 on the ATP Tour back in 2020, announced his retirement back in May. Exhausted from travel and his drop in level—he’s been ranked outside the Top 100 all year—the 32-year-old has said he aims to close out his final chapter on home soil in Buenos Aires next year.

After their US Open match, classy Monfils let Schwartzman have his moment with the fans, as tournament organizers unveiled a touching career tribute for the Argentine.

“It’s difficult to speak, I’m a guy who cries a lot,” Schwartzman admitted through tears. “Sorry. I’m not supposed to cry now, I have to be strong.”

While El Peque managed to get through the emotional on-court ceremony, he was misty-eyed once again as he later reflected on the moment in Spanish.

Q. How does it feel to have played your last Grand Slam match and waved farewell here at the US Open?

\SCHWARTZMAN: It has been great. Many years, time passes very, very quickly... I am very happy with how things have gone for me here and also with how the public has treated me over all these years. \

\In the end, it was the kind of farewell that I always dreamed of: On a big court against a great rival like Gael. Enjoying some moments of the match—not all moments, because in the end, it was tough for me. \

I think it has been a great journey here at the US Open. Every moment has been great, and I have enjoyed myself a lot.

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It wasn’t all tears for Schwartzman, of course, who was also quick to highlight a few things he’s already looking forward to post-retirement.

For one, he’s getting married next year, after proposing to girlfriend Eugenia De Martino back in June. He’s also got a few off-court business ventures in the works, but don’t expect him to return to the practice courts anytime soon as a coach—that’s still a “maybe".

Monfils, meanwhile, is through to the second round at the US Open, where he will take on No. 8 seed Casper Ruud on Wednesday.