Argentine-Jewish tennis player Diego Schwartzman makes it to 3rd round of US Open

Emily Burack

(JTA) — Diego Schwartzman, the highest-ranked Jewish tennis player, has made it to the third round of the U.S. Open.

The 27-year-old Argentine has yet to drop a set, defeating Egor Gerasmiov of Belarus, 6-4, 6-2, 6-0 in the second round after dispatching Robin Haase of the Netherlands 6-3, 7-6 (6), 6-0.

Schwartzman, who is ranked 20th in the world, will face American Tennys Sandgren, ranked 72nd, in the third round on Saturday.

He was raised in a Jewish family in Buenos Aires.

Last year, Schwartzman lost in the third round of the U.S. Open to Kei Nishikori, who reached the semifinals. This year, Schwartzman fell in the same round at Wimbledon, in five sets, and in the Australian Open, as well as in the second round at the French Open to fellow Argentine Leonardo Mayer.

Schwartzman is set to play his first doubles match on Friday with Guido Pella, also from Argentina.