French Open 2020 - Diego Schwartzman downs Dominic Thiem in astonishing marathon upset

ByDan Quarrell

Updated 06/10/2020 at 21:38 GMT

Diego Schwartzman was the marathon man again as he downed third seed Dominic Thiem in five epic sets, 7-5 5-7 6-7 7-6 6-2, to reach the semi-finals of the 2020 French Open. It was a quite incredible performance from the diminutive Argentine as he beat the much-fancied US Open champion at Roland Garros to reach the last four.

The huge shocks kept coming at the 2020 French Open as Diego Schwartzman sent Dominic Thiem packing in a brutal five-set marathon match.

Thiem was considered a favourite by many for the title at Roland Garros after his recent triumph at Flushing Meadows and history of coming up just short at Roland Garros.

But the 12th seed refused to be denied in a huge upset as he reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in quite sensational fashion.

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In a topsy-turvy match that lasted a staggering five hours and eight minutes, Schwartzman eventually clinched an emotional victory on Court Philippe Chatrier.

Highlights: Schwartzman shocks Thiem to reach semi-finals

• 'It's dangerous!' - Thiem fumes at umpire in the rain

The match had drama throughout, and even the opening set was both gripping and gruelling until Schwartzman dominated a bizarre tie-break 7-1.

There were touches of controversy from the outset as rain interrupted play after organisers decided to not shut the roof which prompted delays, and both players were upset with the umpire over the conditions.

'How do you know if it's playable?' - Thiem and Schwartzman row with umpire

Schwartzman also showed his displeasure with the umpire after a very debatable line call, and Thiem kicked on to win the second and third sets and reassert his ascendance.

'He's livid' - Controversy over line call as Schwartzman gets angry

After the Austrian, who looked exhausted at times after his exploits in winning his maiden Grand Slam at the US Open in New York, took the third set tie-break 8-6 he was unable to hold his temporary command.

Schwartzman seized his moment to clinch another breaker, 7-5, and take the epic match into a fifth and deciding set. The 28-year-old did not look back and lost just two games thereafter to close it out.

"I was over the limit today," Austrian third seed Thiem, who had already come through a draining five-set encounter to knock out French wildcard Hugo Gaston in the previous round, told a news conference.

In the end I gave everything I had out there. It was an amazing match. I think the first in my career over five hours. Diego fully deserves it.

The Argentine will now await the winner of second seed Rafael Nadal's quarter-final against Italian sensation Jannik Sinner in the last four with their match having been pushed back much later than planned.

"I think if I would have wanted to win that match, I should have done it in four. In the fifth set, he was just a little bit more fresh and better than me," said Thiem, who said the pain of defeat was lessened by seeing a friend advance into the last four.

"I'm happy for him. Maybe to lose against a friend hurts a little bit less, yeah," he said.

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