Another hard blow: Schwartzman was eliminated in Rio de Janeiro

Dusan Lajovic (80th) surprised by eliminating Diego Schwartzman (38th) in the first phase of the tournament ATP 500 Rio de Janeiro. The Serbian defeated 6-1 and 6-4 in an hour and a half of play at little

The 32-year-old Balkan advanced to the round of 16 after a very solid start, which included win seven straight gameson the clay of the Jockey Club.

Lajovic had a calm first set, while in the second the little He seemed to wake up but ended up succumbing to a Serbian with nerves and concentration of steel.

“Despite the fact that the first set was 6-1, the match was not easy“, conceded the European, about a duel that was to be played the day before, but that was rescheduled for this Wednesday due to heavy rain.

The fall in the main tennis tournament in South America confirms the bad start to the season of Schwartzman, champion of the Rio Open in 2018 and runner-up in 2022. Last week, the 30-year-old Argentine right-hander fell in the round of 16 of the Argentina Open with the Spanish Bernabe Zapata (63rd).

Lajovic will face his compatriot and friend in the round of 16 Laslo Djere (57th)champion in the ‘wonderful city’ in 2019 and who defeated the Argentine on Monday Facundo Bagnis (87th).

“It seems that I will only face former champions. I think he (Djere) has beaten me more times than I have beaten him, but you have to know how to deal with those situations,” Lajovic said.

The day for the Argentines in the ATP of Rio de Janeiro

Thomas Etcheverry (75th) fell to the Spanish Alberto Ramos (47th) by 5-7, 6-4 and 6-4, after three hours and 25 minutes of play.

For his part, Sebastian Baez (35°) semi against the local Thomas Bellucci (915°)

Source: AFP