Argentina, September 15: Juan Martin del Potro ended Roger Federer’s run of dominance at the US Open, stunning the top-ranked Swiss great in five sets to win in his first Grand Slam final.
The 20-year-old Argentine prevailed 3-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 to snap Federer’s streak of five straight US Open titles on Monday. The sixth-seeded del Potro, playing in his first Grand Slam final, had not beaten Federer in their six previous encounters.
Federer had won 40 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows. He was seeking to become the first man since Bill Tilden in 1920-25 to win the American championship six straight times and the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win three straight majors in a season.
Del Potro dominated No. 3 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals in straight sets.
Normally so cool, so consistent, so in control of his emotions and his matches, Federer let the title slip from his grasp.
Two points from victory against inexperienced, unheralded del Potro, two points from a record-extending 16th Grand Slam overall, Federer, quite simply, fell apart.
He railed at the chair umpire. His legs grew weary. His double-faults mounted.
He could not figure out a way to stop the 6-foot-6 del Potro from pounding forehand after forehand past him. In a result as surprising for who lost as how it happened, del Potro came back to win his first Grand Slam.
—Agencies