By Howard Blas
When Diego Schwartzman outlasted Kevin Anderson in Sept. 1’s rain-drenched match — requiring relocation from Louis Armstrong to Arthur Ashe Stadium mid-game — he became the Jewish player who is guaranteed to go deepest in this year’s US Open singles draw.
The prestigious Grand Slam tennis event is taking place until Sept. 12 in New York.
The Jewish Argentinian started his match against the 2017 US Open runner-up at 7:30 p.m. at Louis Armstrong — a stadium with a retractable roof, but with ventilation openings that allowed rain on to the courts. After the rain, the match wasput on hold at 5-5 in the first set. The court was dried and play resumed, even though large puddles continued to form.
Eventually, the match was relocated to Ashe with the 11th-seeded Schwartzman completing his 7-6 (4), 6-3, 6-4 win at 1:30 a.m.
[UPDATE: Schwartzman was eliminated from the tournament on Sunday, Sept. 5.]
Two days earlier, on the sunny first day of the tournament, Schwartzman (#14 in the world) defeated hard-hitting Ricardas Berankis in straight sets 75-63-63.
Following the match, Schwarzman put on a mask and patiently signed tennis balls, iPhone cases and even baseballs for dozens of fans — several wearing yarmulkes and many unfurling Argentine flags and chanting “Diego” repeatedly.
Schwartzman, known as “El Peque” for his short stature, grew up playing tennis at Club Náutico Hacoaj, the Jewish club in Buenos Aires.
He has spoken about his Polish maternal great-grandfather who was crammed with others into a cattle car en route to a concentration camp during the WW II.
The coupling broke apart, leaving his car behind at a station as others went to their deaths. He jumped off the train and fled, eventually traveling by ship with his family to Argentina.
Schwartzman reached the US Open quarterfinals in 2017 and 2019. He is now on to the third round, where he will face Alex Molcan of Slovakia.
There were three Jewish women in the main draw.
Jamie Loeb (#194), from Ossining, NY, won three matches in the qualifying tournament to gain a spot in the main draw, but lost her first-round match. Madison Brengle (#77), a 31-year-old from Dover, Del., lost her first-round singles and doubles matches. This was her ninth appearance in the US Open.
Camila Giorgi (#36) of Italy lost her first-round match to #12 seed Simona Halep (# 13) of Romania 6-4, 7-6 (#3).
Others Jewish players in the main draw include 44-year-old doubles specialist Jonathan Erlich. He and South African Lloyd Harris faced Austrians Oliver Marach and Philipp Oswald on Sept. 3 in their first-round match. They advanced to the second round after winning 62, 67 (73), 62 in an hour and 46 minutes.
Israeli Dudi Sela, currently #322, was scheduled to compete in the qualifying tournament but reportedly tested positive for COVID-19.
Fans of Israel tennis remember when they could see Israelis Shahar Peer, Julia Glushko, David (“Dudi”) Sela and Andy Ram in action at the US Open.
While few such pros or juniors remain in action this year, Hans Felius, the director of tennis and social impact programs at the Israel Tennis Educational Centers, and the professional staff of Israel’s David Squad are systematically training Israeli children to play one day in major tournaments.
