The 6 ft. 8 tall South Africa was well on his way to advancing to the quarter-finals of the clay-court Grand Slam for the first time in his career after winning the first set 6-1 and the second set 6-2.

Schwartzman managed to break in Anderson’s serve in the 10th game of the third set as the South African was serving for the match. The Argentina went on two claim the set 7-5.

It was a matter of Déjà vu on the fourth set as Schwartzman once again broke Anderson’s serve as he was serving for the match. This time the set went into a tie-breaker which the South American had no trouble with and ultimately claimed the set 7-6.

The defeated Anderson showed little resistance in the decisive fifth set, while Schwartzman’s confidence grew with each point and game.

The 5 ft. 7 tall Schwartzman breezed through the set to send Anderson crashing out with a 6-1, 6-2, 5-7, 6-7 and 2-6 defeat.

Schwarzman, who is in the quarter-finals for the first time in his career and will face the 10-time champion, and King of Clay, Rafael Nadal, of Spain in the next round.

Nadal, beat Germany’s Maximilian Marterer 6-3, 6-2 and 7-6 to book his place in the last 8.

Had Anderson held his nerve in the fourth round, he like Schwartzman, would have qualified for the quarters of the year’s second Grand Slam for the first time in his career.

No South African men’s singles player has been able to advance past the fourth round of the French Open since Cliff Drysdale back in 1967.

Last year Anderson reached the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam for the first and only time in his career, and ultimately advanced to the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport