Diego Schwartzman's slump hit a new low after the 30-year-old lost in the second round of qualifying at the Cincinnati Masters on Sunday.
A three-set defeat to Alexander Shevchenko ended a run of 52 straight main draw appearances at the ATP Masters 1000 level for the diminutive Argentine, dating back to the 2016 Shanghai Masters. And Schwartzman went on to apprise tennis fans on Instagram of losing that streak.
Schwartzman has won just nine main draw matches from 28 this year. He is having a dreadful campaign by the standards he set for himself. The last time his win-loss record did not cross the 50% mark, was back in 2015 when he was still a rookie on the main tour.
In June, his ranking descended to three digits for the first time since 2014. Even though he managed to haul himself back into the Top 100, he hasn't won a main draw match in the current US swing and didn't qualify at this week's Cincinnati Masters. An exasperated Schwartzman vows to come back.
"7 years... 52 straight Masters 1000 playing the main draw. Today the streak came to an end, a mix of sadness and happiness for having achieved things in these years I would have never imagined. Thanks to each and every person that took me to this place since I was little."
"And to all of you on the other side that always support me and it's the most beautiful thing of sport, being able to reach so many people and that when I'm playing well, they enjoy seeing me play. This continues! Come on."
Earlier this year, Schwartzman revealed that his father's health was weighing heavily on his mind after he was hospitalized for three weeks during the Golden Swing, which historically is Schwartzman's most productive part of the season.
But he never won a match in four tournaments in South America. Schwartzman will now head to the US Open, where he is a direct entrant in the main draw. He is 4-3 in Grand Slam matches this season.
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