ATP Rome – 38 centimeters difference, but a formidable duo: the improbable Isner-Schwartzman duo in half of the double

The announcement dates back to April 26: “John Isner and Diego Schwartzman to team up in Rome Masters 1000 doubles tournamentIt’s Friday, May 13, and the most unlikely duo on the circuit have qualified for the semi-finals of the Roman doubles tournament.

Easy winners in two sets (6-3, 6-2) of an unknown pair – made up of the Briton Lloyd Glasspool and the Finn Harri Heliovaara – the “John-Diego” team is now at the gates of the final. What appeared to be a touch of humor and a fun-oriented union, the difference of 38 centimeters between the two men is obviously very visible, has above all become a formidable idea in sporting terms.

Come to think of it, Isner’s tweet, the day of the announcement, was premonitory of what to offer this pair of extremes: “Come on Diego Schwartzman, relaunch machine, we go for it.” The principle was simple: John Isner, 2.08m, was the aces machine and Diego Schwartzman, 1.70m, had to be the bail raiser. Each had their strengths to make the duo complementary. They nicknamed themselves: “Ace- bot” and “Return-bot”.

Schwartzman, aka “Return-bot”, has turned his size into a strength

Three meetings: three victories. In the Eternal City, here are the two players with the title in sight. For that, it will be necessary to win two more matches, including their half against Andrey Golubev and Maximo Gonzalez scheduled for Saturday. They have pinned Colombians Juan Sebastian Cabal and Robert Ferah – 11th in the world, and among the best doubles players for long seasons – on their list.

Longtime friends, recurring adversaries on the singles circuit, Isner and Schwartzman have often joked about their height difference over time. Subject to ridicule for his height, which he judges exactly at 1.68m and not 1.70m, the Argentinian had also seemed annoyed by the remarks on this subject over time, but he never complained of that for the sporting side of the thing. On the contrary, he adapted.

Concrete example: “El Peque” has greatly compensated for its lack of centimeters by becoming very precise on the impact zones of its face-offs. Its weaknesses have become sites for progress. “I worked a lot on my game from the baseline. I also worked a lot on my serve and other things to beat players taller than me. (…) Being great can help you for many things, you can serve very well and very strong. From the bottom line you can do a lot more things, because you have more weapons“, he explained in 2017.

Recently, during the announcement of the composition of the teams for the Laver Cup, the player born in Buenos Aires had not lacked humor to comment on his presence in the rest of the world team. “The best thing about the Laver Cup is that I can find my two brothers.” The two brothers in question: his friend Isner, of course, but also the other giant of the circuit: Reilly Opelka, 2.11m and now the tallest player in the Top 100 at the ATP.

While waiting for the family reunion, the desire to see “Ace-bot and “Return-Bot” do Roland-Garros together has obviously increased. Hope it lasts!