When Juan Martin Del Potro packed his bags and left Wimbledon 15 months ago as a routine second-round loser in the tournament, few outside Argentina knew very much about what was then an emerging teenage talent. From that point onwards, the fan club of "that man with four names" began growing steadily as four successive tournament victories took him into last year's US Open as one of the hottest players on tour.
Andy Murray halted the South American juggernaut 12 months ago as the British No 1 qualified for his first grand slam final appearance - a losing one because of Roger Federer's domination of the Flushing Meadows scene. There was no stopping the giant Del Potro this year, though. Not even Federer - his form and confidence sky high after emotional triumphs at Roland Garros and Wimbledon - could deny the gigantic-but-shy figure a glorious arrival among the big boys of the game.
Federer, who had memorably repelled a tough challenge from Andy Roddick at Wimbledon for a record 15th grand slam, was unable to add another when the delayed Open final went into a deciding set in the early hours of yesterday morning. Del Potro, stubbornly hanging on during the first three hours of a Federer-controlled match, was by far the stronger as another tremendous major final went into the deciding set and a fifth hour.
The Swiss, so often cool and collected in the most demanding situations, was distinctly second best on this occasion. A resolute Del Potro broke him twice in the final set to clinch an outstanding 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 victory. Along with his semi-final conquest of Nadal, he became the first player to beat both of the sport's two leading figures at the same grand slam. Del Potro's delivery of English is not as impressive as his punishing service which is delivered from high above his imposing 6ft 6in frame but he still got his message across to a stunned New York public after celebrating the highlight of his rise to prominence.
"I just want to live this moment," he said. "Of course I will be in the history of this tournament. That's amazing for me. "I have new opportunities in the other grand slams to win, because if I beat Nadal, Federer and many good players here, maybe I can do one more time. But of course, [it] will be difficult, because I was so close to lose [losing] today." Del Potro, 20, revealed that he had lay awake worrying for much of the night before his big day. "The beginning of the match I was so nervous," he said. "I can't sleep last night. I don't take a breakfast today. That's part of the final, you know.
"But Roger start very good. I start little down. Was bad with my serve, and that's important weapon of my game. When I broke his serve for first time, I start to believe in my game." Federer, though understandably disconsolate at failing to add a record sixth successive title at Flushing Meadows, was gracious after losing a grand slam final for the first time to anybody but Nadal. "You can't have them all," said the world No 1 as he savoured a wonderful year's accomplishments.
The Swiss was philosophical about his 41-match streak coming to an end. "Five [US titles] was great, four was great, too," he said. "Six would have been a dream, too. I've had an amazing summer and a great run. I'm not too disappointed just because I thought I played another wonderful tournament. "I had chances today to win, but couldn't take them. It was unfortunate." Federer will be glad he equalled Pete Sampras' grand slam record of 14 at the French Open and then surpassed it at Wimbledon this year because Del Potro looks like he is here to stay.
Unlike Murray in the same Arthur Ashe Stadium a year ago, Del Potro seized his career-defining moment when it came and now has his sights on replacing the British player as the principal threat to Federer and Nadal for world supremacy. Del Potro's Flushing Meadows success carries him above Roddick to fifth in the world and a future No 1 ranking is by no means beyond him. wjohnson@thenational.ae
