"Everything Rafael Nadal does is crazy" - Diego Schwartzman
Diego Schwartzman recently described Rafael Nadal's incredible feat of winning 13 Roland Garros titles as 'completely crazy'. The Argentine added that he is amazed by what the Spaniard has achieved, and continues to achieve, in the sport.
Last weekend, Rafael Nadal won a record-extending 13th French Open singles title. In the process he also reached 20 Grand Slam titles, a record he now shares with Roger Federer.
Schwartzman knows how difficult it is to beat the 34-year-old, not just on clay but on any surface. He defeated Rafael Nadal for the first time in 10 matches in Rome just prior to the French Open, but went down to the Spaniard in the semifinals at Roland Garros.
Speaking to the ATP website, Schwartzman could barely mask his awe as he paid tribute to Nadal's accomplishments.
“Everything he does is crazy… I've told him," Schwartzman said. "He continues to break records, both on clay and at the Grand Slam level."
The 28-year-old added that it is difficult for anyone to comprehend just how incredible a feat Nadal had achieved at Roland Garros.
"Now he's there fighting Roger Federer head to head (for the Slams) and Novak Djokovic a little further back, the three of them are fighting to be the best in history and it's incredible what Nadal keeps doing," Schwartzman said. "A lot of people read saying 'only playing Roland Garros 13 times is difficult, to win it 13 times, you can't comprehend what Rafa is doing there.'"
I feel very comfortable at Rafael Nadal's academy in Mallorca: Diego Schwartzman
Schwartzman himself has achieved impressive results over the past one month, having reached his first Masters Series final as well as his first Grand Slam semi-final. After breaking into the Top 10 for the first time in his career, Schwartzman said he was very happy to finally achieve his goal.
"These last few weeks were a very good level, with a lot of new things, defeating the best clay court players which are there today and I think that in the end I ended getting the confidence to enter the Top 10. Being part of the Top 10 is an important achievement after many years of being close and it is very nice to be able to achieve it," Schwartzman said.
The Argentine has been spending the past few days at the Rafa Nadal Academy in Spain. As he prepares to get back on the circuit, Schwartzman said that he finds the atmosphere at the academy comfortable and relaxing.
“I feel very comfortable in Mallorca. I love the Rafa Nadal Academy, I have already been several times. I like the city too and it is an important part of being able to enjoy after coming and training, to relax," he added.