Juan Martin del Potro Upsets Roger Federer at the US Open

Posted Sep 14, 2009 8:32PM By Shane Bacon (RSS feed)

Call 2009 the year of the fallen giant. A month after friend Tiger Woods lost a 54-hole lead in a major championship for the first time in his career, Roger Federer lost in a Grand Slam final by a guy not named Rafael Nadal.

Juan Martin del Potro did the unthinkable on Monday at the U.S. Open, defeating the 15-time Grand Slam champion after losing the first set to Federer in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Del Potro took the match in five sets, winning 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 for his first Grand Slam title.

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Since the 2005 Australian Open, only one man had won a grand slam that wasn't named Federer or Rafael Nadal (Novak Djokovic, in the '08 Australian). Del Potro had to go through both men to win this championship, a feat incomparable in any other sport in this day and age.

The problem with Federer was simple. He served far from Federer-like. John McEnroe, the voice of the CBS broadcast, continually talked about how Federer was tossing the ball too low, and couldn't adjust, leading to a ton of first serves catching the net.

Normally the type of rare athlete that can change things on the fly, Federer continually looked frustrated when it was his serve, and it showed.

Enough can't be said about del Potro, who came out in the first set as flat as you'd expect a young opponent playing the great Federer. It was turned around with a tiebreak win in the second before an interesting exchange happened in the third set. Del Potro was allowed a challenge after both players were near their seats, leading to an angry exchange between Federer and the chair umpire.

Federer came out firing after that, but it didn't last. After claiming the third set, del Potro won a tiebreaker in the fourth and broke Roger in the second game of the fifth set. The big-hitting del Potro just stuck to his impressive serve after that,

Del Potro joins Guillermo Vilas as the only Argentines to win the U.S. Open, doing it 32 years after Vilas beat Jimmy Conners.

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U.S. Open 2009

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina celebrates championship point after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Men's Singles final on day fifteen of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 14, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Del Potro defeated Federer 3-6, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Juan Martin Del Potro

Getty Images

Getty Images North America

U.S. Open Photos

Roger Federer, of Switzerland, sits in his court side chair while waiting for trophy presentations after his defeat by Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, in the men's finals championship at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, kisses the championship trophy after winning the men's finals championship over Roger Federer, of Switzerland, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, reacts after winning the men's finals championship over Roger Federer, of Switzerland, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina holds his trophy after beating Roger Federer from Switzerland during the final of the 2009 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in New York, September 14, 2009. Del Potro won 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina kisses his trophy after beating Roger Federer from Switzerland during the final of the 2009 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in New York, September 14, 2009. Del Potro won 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina kisses his trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Men's Final US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 14, 2009 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina hold his trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Men's Final US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 14, 2009 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

AFP/Getty Images

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

9-14-2009 @ 8:45PM

minntex2 said...

I guess you could say that Federer "got served", lol....Congrats to del Potro

9-14-2009 @ 9:18PM

diplobrat said...

I believe...the field has LEVELED.

9-15-2009 @ 9:33AM

JJ said...

Maybe, maybe. Congrats to del Potro, who fought hard all the way. Spirit of a true champion in the making

9-15-2009 @ 9:11PM

dino said...

Sob, Sob, Roger...no one is crying for you in Argentina! Leveled by a a babe in diapers...I guess now poor Roger is worried that people easily see how much greater Tiger Woods is.....at least Pete Sampras went out like the great champion he was....sob, sob, Roger...lol

Dana said...

Wow! Federer lost 2 tie breakers. Usually that is where he can take an advantage. Keeps it interesting, anyway...

9-14-2009 @ 9:23PM

tenut40l said...

What was up with DICK Enberg not letting Del Potro give his speech in Spanish. Not once but twice he asked politely to speak in spanish to address the crowd. The kid bearly speaks English and he was blown off. They gave the runner-up a chance to speak!!!!Would they have done that to Roger if he had won???? Hmmmm I wonder

9-14-2009 @ 10:19PM

icyblueices said...

I agree 100%. That wasn't fair at all. He wanted to thank people in his native language.. Just as Nadal did back 2008 when he won at Wimbledon.. He was being incredibly unfair. I'm really happy for him. Someone finally put a stop to arrogant Federer.. Did you hear him talk to the umpire?! He was very unclassy. Del Potro played a beautiful match..

9-14-2009 @ 11:03PM

gr7143 said...

Those of you who are saying that Del Potro was denied his request to speak in Spanish are incorrect: While Enberg did say initially that they were running short on time, when asked a second time he DID allow Del Potro to speak for about 30-45 seconds in Spanish.

9-15-2009 @ 12:02AM

trinisonic said...

Yeah, Enberg was very worng to do that. Felt Sorry for DelPo, only wanted to thank his family.
Dick's an idiot!

9-15-2009 @ 12:43AM

thearguetas said...

Thank you....that was very very rude...but not surprising !!

9-14-2009 @ 9:34PM

mrsperryred said...

Where is Greg Couch? I guess this means that Del Potro is the best in the world right? Does this mean that Roger is a coward because he himself lost his cool? Everybody gets lucky just ask that Clyster chick. Now yall know the bully does bleed, Roger the great got his ass whipped it happens to the best of them. At the end of the day it don't mean shit, Roger is still the best and so is Serena. I'm just glad you Serena haters who all praise the unbeatable Roger got a good taste of defeat as well. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!!!

9-15-2009 @ 9:38AM

Miss,

Everywhere I go you're blowing your stack. I understand you're still upset over the whole Serena episode and I respect that. But to belittle del Potro's accomplishment last night just tells me you didn't watch the match nor knew of his name before this morning. Yes, Roger Federer will still still be the top for the next little while and Serena (de facto, I suppose) as well, but please don't compare Roger's conduct on the courts with hers.

9-14-2009 @ 9:46PM

bdonate764 said...

How absurd that the man couldn't speak Spanish.
I do not understand Spanish ....just French, English , and Italian...but it is his right to speak any language he feels comfortable with....Such stupidity ...not allowing a champion to speak his native language.

9-14-2009 @ 10:22PM

Wynn said...

This man, Del Porto looks JUST like Jug Head from the ARchie Comics. I am very upset that Federer lost. I love him a bunch; he is THE class act. He was cheated a bit in this match. I wish he had come in on that ugly monster more. Wish Federer luck their match up. I hope he has his number.

9-15-2009 @ 5:09PM

Liz said...

I am glad he lost to Del Potro , i am just getting tired of people always gushing about how good he is , blah, blah ,blah,great champion and so on . Its time for a new faces to emerges as a champion other than him.Congrats Del Potro.

9-14-2009 @ 10:46PM

mattstum said...

NURRR HURRR I LIKE ROGER FEDERER HURRRRRRRRRRRR I DONT WANT ANYONE ELSE TO WIN HURRRRRRRRRR

i'm glad he lost. it is nice to see someone else win.

9-14-2009 @ 11:05PM

div5lex said...

I couldn't agree more- It is nice to see someone else win! It is not good for our sport to keep seeing the same people win over and over and over again. Roger was gracious in defeat and no tears. What would he have to cry about anyway? Long live the king the king is dead!

9-14-2009 @ 11:12PM

Purple Patito said...

Fantastico!! Way to go Juan Martin Del Potro!

9-15-2009 @ 12:30AM

leisingfel said...

anyone who still believes that sport is not controlled by the financial interests that constantly need new faces to keep "spectators" paying up is either naive or ignorant or both. Federer could beat any of the current opponents but who would pay to watch him doing what is a foregone conclusion?

9-15-2009 @ 2:36AM

bjs said...

Dick Enberg has had a long & successful career but having him deny Del Potro the opportunity to speak in Spanish after 4 hours of tennis and then only reluctantly giving in for him to do so "quickly", was one of the unclassiest things I've seen in sport in a long time. I would like to see an apology or would recommend Mr. Enberg's retirement.

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