Diego Schwartzman picks the player he respects most out of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer

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Diego Schwartzman enjoyed an impressive stint at the top of men’s tennis, challenging the very best on the ATP Tour.

Few players are more universally liked in tennis than the 32-year-old Argentine, who won four ATP titles as a professional.

Schwartzman announced his retirement from the sport last year, as his form faded, having once been ranked in the world’s top ten.

Planning to end his career at the 2025 Argentina Open, ‘El Peque’ produced a stunning upset to hold off retirement in Buenos Aires.

Schwartzman beat Chile’s Nicolas Jarry, 7-6, [12-10], 4-6, 6-3, to win his first match on the ATP Tour since 2023.

The Cinderella run ended in the second round, however, as Schwartzman retired from tennis following a straight-sets defeat to Spanish star Pedro Martinez.

Having now retired from tennis, Schwartzman took the time to share his thoughts on some of the greatest players of his generation.

Diego Schwartzman respected Rafael Nadal more than Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer

Speaking to ESPN, Schwartzman was asked to pick the member of the ‘big three’, he respects the most.

“I think Rafa [Nadal], of the three, is the one who commands the most respect when you enter the court,” he said.

“It’s like you enter the court a little more defeated.”

Nadal and Schwartzman faced off 12 times on the ATP Tour, as the Argentine won on just one occasion, at the Italian Open in 2020.

Schwartzman beat Nadal in straight sets, 6-2, 7-5, for his first win over the 22-time Major champion, as he advanced to the semi-finals of a Masters 1000 event for just the second time in his career.

The pair faced off twice more, both at the French Open, as Schwartzman picked up just one more set against the legendary Spaniard.

• 2021 French Open QF – Diego Schwartzman lost to Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, 6-0
• 2020 French Open SF – Diego Schwartzman lost to Rafael Nadal, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6

His defeat at Roland Garros five years ago may have been his most devastating, as the former world number eight competed in his first Major semi-final.

Schwartzman enjoyed a great run to the last four, knocking out one of the pre-tournament favorites, Dominic Thiem in a quarter-final classic.

It wasn’t to be in the semi-finals, as Schwartzman fell to a straight sets defeat against the three-time defending champion on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Diego Schwartzman’s ATP record against Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer

Schwartzman may have respected Nadal more than Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, but did he enjoy any more success against the Swiss and Serbian stars?

The 32-year-old remarkably lost all 11 meetings with Djokovic and Federer, coming closest to victory against the 24-time Major champion in Paris eight years ago.

Always dangerous at the French Open, Schwartzman led Djokovic by two sets to one during their third-round clash in 2017.

He was unable to finish the job, however, as the number two seed asserted his dominance, dropping just two sets as he came out a 5-7, 6-3, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1 winner, booking his place in the last 16.

Schwartzman may have secured just one win against the sport’s greatest trio, but that didn’t stop him from cementing a tennis legacy that will be remembered for generations.