Diego Schwartzman fell to French veteran star Gael Monfils in the first round of the US Open, losing in four sets on Grandstand. The Argentine star stole a set before losing the final three in the match, amassing only a total of five won games in that stretch. But what shocked the fans in the game was the sudden decision for Schwartzman to bid farewell from the US Open for good.

In fact, he’s on his final Tour run in the ATP as he is slated to retire from the game in Argentina next year.

Former world no. 8 Diego Schwartzman was hoping for a promising run in the US Open after he’s had a great run in the game over the years. The Argentine star was seeking to come up with a deep push in this year’s edition, only to end up losing to Monfils in the first round. Now he seeks to take a short break for a while and consider his next set of games to play in the final stretch of his career.

This news comes after another top 10 ATP Tour star, Dominic Thiem, claimed that this is his final New York campaign with an emotional note. This has been quite a shocking week for ATP Tour fans so far, and it cannot be denied that Schwartzman’s decision to retire despite being fully healthy in the game is quite baffling.

A Special Moment in the US Open

Schwartzman allowed 16 aces from Monfils in the loss, but that is not the focus of his post-game drama, which has seen more attention than the actual game itself. A video montage of Schwartzman’s biggest moments in the previous US Open campaigns was shown after the game, which definitely drew tears from the Argentine star.

“These are special moments, like you saw before on the screen,” said Schwartzman, referring to a montage video played on court after the match. “Once again, playing here, 11 times in a row. Playing in a Grand Slam, at the US Open. I don’t know why they take care of me so well every year, and I’m not sure if I deserve it or not, but I’m really grateful for all the years I have been here.”

Schwartzman admitted that he is a guy who cries a lot, and he sure did not hold back as he had tears in his final post-match interview in the US Open, which has certainly seen fans feel the drama unfold when it comes to his final run at the hard-court major.

What’s Next for Schwartzman?

Still, Schwartzman is not slated to retire from the game until February, when he will play in a home game in Argentina. However, the Argentine star did claim that he will be moving on from the big games in his career, marking the US Open as the final run of his majors.

"It has been great. Many years, time passes very, very quickly. I am very happy with how things have gone for me here and also with how the public has treated me over all these years,” said Schwartzman. “In the end, it was a finale that I always dreamed of, on a big court against a great rival like Gael.”

Schwartzman enjoyed the best of his moments in the ATP Tour, and it cannot be denied that he will always remember his great journey in the US Open – being a two-time finalist in the major over the years.