First-Time Winner Spotlight: Diego Schwartzman

Diego Schwartzman rallied from the brink of elimination in the final of the TEB BNP Paribas Istanbul Open to clinch his maiden ATP World Tour title with a 6-7(5), 7-6(4), 6-0 victory over top seed Grigor Dimitrov.

Schwartzman is the second first-time winner on the ATP World Tour this year, joining Nick Kyrgios (Marseille).

Kyrgios spoke to ATPWorldTour.com after his victory.

Was this something you dreamed about when growing up and as a junior?

Yes of course. Ever since I started playing I imagined winning a tournament and have a week like the one I just had. I’ve been working very hard and perhaps the first months of the season were not the best, but I kept working hard alongside my team and my family. At this point I did not expect such a good week and playing this well, but I knew I was going to compete well because last year I played very well and I liked the conditions here.

Last year you lost to Roger Federer in semi-finals and this year you won the tournament and made the doubles final. How special is Istanbul for you?

It is amazing and I will never forget this place. It was my second doubles final, my first title and my first singles final. Last year I was close to beating Federer in semi-finals, an idol for all the tennis players. So it will be very difficult to forget this city.

How did you prepare for the final?

As with the other matches. I had very difficult matches and last night I did not sleep well. I woke up a few times and was sweating a lot, like when you have fever. I was very nervous, but I knew that despite being tired I would compete well and that it would be a very close final.

Now that you won your first title, what is your main goal for the rest of the season?

Trying to win games like I did here, to be more consistent and win big matches in tournaments like this. I will work very hard to do it.

Which person has helped you the most during your career so far?

Everybody. My friends and my family, coaches I had since I was a child and the whole team that is behind me right now. Everyone did their part to get this victory.

In your game, what do you have to improve and what do you consider your strengths?

The strength is the intensity in my legs and the desire to compete in every game. I think this week I could bring the best out of these things. I started losing most of my matches but I could recover. That makes me very happy, but I have to keep improving in all the aspects of the game: my physical strength, my tennis and serve… [I need to] try to improve my percentages as well as I did in this tournament.

Which were your idols as a kid?

I always look to Guillermo Coria, David Nalbandian. Gaston Gaudio, Guillermo Canas, all of what we called ‘The Legion’. I saw all of them when I was growing up. We had three Top 10 players, so it was amazing to all the kids to look at them at that time. So I consider them my idols.

What do you like to do besides playing tennis?

I try to have a regular live. Hang out with my friends, go for a dinner, eating ‘asado’ [a traditional food in Argentina], going to football matches… I try to go anytime I can but it is not to often. Watching football is something that is fun for me, and I also enjoy talking to people about this sport.