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Del Potro arrives with epic victory

NEW YORK -- The game's next big thing announced himself Monday night in New York City. But Juan Martin del Potro has been on the fast track for some time now. The 20-year-old Argentine was the youngest player in the year-end Top 10 in 2008, the youngest Air Jordan Shoes player in the year-end Top 50 in 2007, the youngest player in the year-end Top 100 in 2006 and the youngest player in the year-end Top 200 in 2005. But those are merely numerical landmarks. Del Potro entered a whole new category in New York: He slayed Roger Federer at the U.S. Open. Del Potro's stunning 3-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory -- the match lasted 4 hours and 6 minutes -- was Federer's first loss at the Open since 2003, a span of 41 matches and 2,200 days. It was also del Potro's first win over the Swiss star in seven tries. Most impressive of all, del Potro became the first player to defeat Rafael Nadal and Federer in back-to-back matches at a Grand Slam tournament. "I thought he hung in there and gave himself chances, and in the end was the better man," said Federer. It was a remarkable display of power tennis from del Potro, who seemingly flicked a switch in the middle of the second set after a case of nerves in the opener. But perhaps we should have seen this coming. Del Potro is 17-1 since Wimbledon and responsible for Nadal's worst defeat in a Grand Slam, a 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 semifinal rout on Michael Jordan Shoes Sunday. Marat Safin, who beat Pete Sampras at the 2000 Open, was the last No. 6 seed to win the Open title. But that win came in a blowout; Del Potro defeated Federer in one of the epic U.S. Open finals. "It's difficult to explain this moment," Del Potro said. "You know, since young I dream with this and take trophy with me. You know, I did my dream, and it's unbelievable moment. It's amazing match, amazing people. Everything is perfect." Federer was playing in his 22nd Grand Slam final and going for his 16th major title. He was also bidding to become the first male player since Bill Tilden to win six successive U.S. titles. "Five was great, four was great," Federer said. "Six would have been a dream, too. Can't have them all. I've had an amazing summer and a great run. I'm not too disappointed just because I thought I played another wonderful tournament. Had chances today to win, but couldn't take them." Federer had his chances early. Del Potro was frayed with nerves from the first ball and soon possessed the body language of a patron in a Buenos Aires café following a Silver Jewelry loss by the national soccer team. "The beginning of the match I was so nervous," del Potro said. "I can't sleep last night. I don't take a breakfast today." And Federer had his lunch early. He broke the 20-year-old on his sixth break point in the second game, hitting an otherworldly cross-court forehand winner that prompted his father, Robert Federer, to leap from his seat. Federer dispatched del Potro in 40 minutes to win the opening set, but the two went to a tiebreak in the second when del Potro smacked a forehand winner to break Federer while trailing 4-5. Prior to losing the second set tiebreak, Federer had been 18-3 in major championship tiebreakers and 4-0 in tiebreaks in the Open final. The crowd was filled with celebrity Fedophiles -- the guests in his friends box included rockers Gavin Rossdale, Gwen Stefani and his ultimate celebrity groupie, Vogue editor Anna Wintour -- but you could also make out plenty of del Potro supporters around Arthur Ashe Stadium, including Guillermo Vilas, the last U.S. Open champion from South American. What they all saw was a surprisingly tension-filled match. So much so that Federer cursed at chair umpire Jake Garner (on national television) after the ninth game of the Wholesale Watches third set. Upset that del Potro was taking too long to challenge a point, Federer barked, "No, no, no. I wasn't allowed to challenge after two seconds. The guy takes, like, 10. Every time. You can't allow that stuff to happen. Do you have any rules in there, or what?" When Garner told him to settle down, Federer channeled his inner Serena Williams. "Stop showing me your hand, OK? Stop telling me to be quiet, OK?," Federer said. "When I want to talk, I talk. I don't give a s**** what you said. I say he's waiting too long. ..."
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