Del Potro ends Federer's five-year reign
September 15th 2009 13:12
ARGENTINE Juan Martin del Potro is the latest player to taste grand slam success courtesy of a come-from-behind five-set victory over world No.1 Roger Federer in the US Open final.
A tearful del Potro congratulated Federer and thanked the crowd before delivering an emotional message in his native Spanish tongue.
The 20-year-old is only the second Argentinean to win the Flushing Meadows crown behind Guillermo Vilas, who was in attendance.
It was the first five-set US Open final since American Andre Agassi outlasted countryman Todd Martin in the 1999 instalment.
Federer has gone the full distance in three of his four grand slam finals this year, losing the Australian Open to Rafael Nadal and now the US Open to del Potro.
He beat American Andy Roddick in an epic Wimbledon encounter.
Del Potro was staring down the barrel of a two-set deficit when Federer stepped up to serve at 5-4 in the second set.
But del Potro, who grew in confidence the longer the match went, broke back with a brilliant passing shot on his favoured forehand wing before forcing a tiebreak and going on to level the match.
Federer struck back to claim the third 6-4, but the world No.6 snatched an early break in the fourth.
But the 15-time grand slam champion stormed back again.
The 28-year-old levelled the set at 4-4 with a strong receiving game – forcing del Potro into an error on a running forehand on break point.
Federer regained the ascendancy and held serve to lead 5-4 and was two points from the match when del Potro struck a wild forehand well long for 15-30.
Del Potro produced an unreturnable serve for 30-30 and locked the set up at 5-5 with his eighth ace.
The clash went to its second tiebreak and Federer double-faulted to immediately hand the advantage to his younger opponent.
Del Potro quickly led 3-0 and then 5-2 before Federer missed wide on his forehand to hand the former the set.
The 1.98m Argentine continued swinging from the hip and acquired the crucial first break in the second game of the fifth set.
Federer earned himself a break point when del Potro dumped a forehand into the net, but, as the latter did so well throughout the match, he rose to the challenge.
It was to be the Swiss star’s final opportunity to get himself back into the contest.
Del Potro held to love for a 5-2 lead and an errant Federer backhand gave him double championship point.
Federer won the next three points, but del Potro lifted again and earned himself another match point – this time Federer missed an out-of-position backhand long.
Del Potro will move to an equal career-high No.5 in the new rankings and, more importantly, has proven he can defeat anyone.
He also qualified for the eight-player ATP Tour World Finals in London from 22 to 29 November.
It was del Potro’s first win in his seventh meeting with Federer.
Federer's serve never got going – even during his brilliant beginning – and he finished with 11 double faults and just a 50 per cent success-rate on first serves.
Both competitors achieved five breaks of serve, with Federer boasting 23 chances to del Potro’s 15.
A tearful del Potro congratulated Federer and thanked the crowd before delivering an emotional message in his native Spanish tongue.
The 20-year-old is only the second Argentinean to win the Flushing Meadows crown behind Guillermo Vilas, who was in attendance.
It was the first five-set US Open final since American Andre Agassi outlasted countryman Todd Martin in the 1999 instalment.
Federer has gone the full distance in three of his four grand slam finals this year, losing the Australian Open to Rafael Nadal and now the US Open to del Potro.
He beat American Andy Roddick in an epic Wimbledon encounter.
Argentine Juan Martin del Potro ended Swiss world No.1 Roger Federer's five-year reign as US Open champion in today's men's final.
Del Potro was staring down the barrel of a two-set deficit when Federer stepped up to serve at 5-4 in the second set.
But del Potro, who grew in confidence the longer the match went, broke back with a brilliant passing shot on his favoured forehand wing before forcing a tiebreak and going on to level the match.
Federer struck back to claim the third 6-4, but the world No.6 snatched an early break in the fourth.
But the 15-time grand slam champion stormed back again.
The 28-year-old levelled the set at 4-4 with a strong receiving game – forcing del Potro into an error on a running forehand on break point.
Federer regained the ascendancy and held serve to lead 5-4 and was two points from the match when del Potro struck a wild forehand well long for 15-30.
Del Potro produced an unreturnable serve for 30-30 and locked the set up at 5-5 with his eighth ace.
The clash went to its second tiebreak and Federer double-faulted to immediately hand the advantage to his younger opponent.
Del Potro quickly led 3-0 and then 5-2 before Federer missed wide on his forehand to hand the former the set.
The 1.98m Argentine continued swinging from the hip and acquired the crucial first break in the second game of the fifth set.
Five-time reigning US Open champion Roger Federer started well, but was ultimately unable to blunt Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro's powerful game.
Federer earned himself a break point when del Potro dumped a forehand into the net, but, as the latter did so well throughout the match, he rose to the challenge.
It was to be the Swiss star’s final opportunity to get himself back into the contest.
Del Potro held to love for a 5-2 lead and an errant Federer backhand gave him double championship point.
Federer won the next three points, but del Potro lifted again and earned himself another match point – this time Federer missed an out-of-position backhand long.
Del Potro will move to an equal career-high No.5 in the new rankings and, more importantly, has proven he can defeat anyone.
He also qualified for the eight-player ATP Tour World Finals in London from 22 to 29 November.
It was del Potro’s first win in his seventh meeting with Federer.
Federer's serve never got going – even during his brilliant beginning – and he finished with 11 double faults and just a 50 per cent success-rate on first serves.
Both competitors achieved five breaks of serve, with Federer boasting 23 chances to del Potro’s 15.
| 31 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
