NEW YORK — From the moment he saw a picture of Arthur Ashe Stadium, the world’s biggest tennis venue, Juan Martin del Potro dreamed about winning the U.S. Open.
But he was just a child. And he was from Argentina — land of clay-court champions, not hard-court masters.
Monday night, del Potro, 20, collapsed flat on his back on that very court — all 6-feet-6 of him — and broke down in tears, having upset the man regarded as the greatest to play the game, Roger Federer, to win the title he coveted most, prevailing 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (6-4), 6-2 in 4 hours, 6 minutes.
In doing so, he denied Federer a sixth consecutive U.S. Open and record-extending 16th major title.
But he hardly sullied Federer’s otherwise spectacular year — one in which he reached the final of all four majors; achieved a career Grand Slam by winning his first French Open; claimed the Wimbledon title; married his longtime girlfriend and became a father of twins.
“Five (U.S. Opens) was great,” said Federer, 28. “Four was great too. Six would have been a dream too. Can’t have them all. (The) year has been amazing already, and it’s not over yet. Got married and had kids. Don’t know how much more I could want.”
While Federer will remain No. 1 when the world rankings are next computed, del Potro will supplant American Andy Roddick at No. 5.
But the Argentine proved he’s destined to rise further still after toppling the two men who have dominated the sport for the last five years, Rafael Na-dal and Federer, in a 36-hour span en route to Monday’s title.
Del Potro was as gracious in victory as he was resilient through the fight.
“I have two dreams in this sport: One is (to win) the U.S. Open, and the other is to be like Roger,” del Potro said during the on-court trophy presentation.
“One is done,” he added, turning to Federer. “But I need to improve a lot to be like you. I would like to congratulate you. You are a great champion.”
Federer had no trouble complimenting his young rival afterward.
“He hung in there and gave himself chances,” Federer said. “In the end, he was the better man.”
Federer wasn’t at his best Monday. His serve lacked its customary accuracy. His groundstrokes erred more often than usual. Even his impeccable comportment was missing in the tense third set, when Federer complained about the length of time del Potro was taking in deciding to challenge line calls and then cussed chair umpire Jake Garner after he tried to quiet him.
“Don’t tell me to be quiet, OK?” Federer snapped. “When I want to talk, I talk!” Then, in response to something Garner said, Federer said, “I don’t give a (expletive) what he says.”
He wasn’t the only man on edge.
Del Potro said he was so nervous about his first major final that he had trouble sleeping Sunday night and couldn’t eat breakfast Monday.
His anxiety showed in the first set. His footwork was off, and he struggled to place his first serves. Federer broke early and claimed the set in 40 minutes. But once del Potro steadied himself, he gave Federer his stiffest challenge of the tournament, blasting forehands that sounded like cannon blasts.
Once a liability, del Potro’s serve is a weapon. And Monday he produced his best when he needed it most, fending off 17 of Federer’s 22 break points.
The rain-delayed final, played for a second consecutive year on a Monday afternoon, was hardly flawlessly played, but tightly contested to the delight of a near-capacity crowd.
“My dream is done,” del Potro said. “I will go home with the trophy. It’s my best sensation ever in my life. Maybe tomorrow. Maybe next week I will be believing in this. But now? I don’t understand nothing.”
Serving up del Potro
A look at Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro, who won his first Grand Slam title Monday:
• Will turn 21 on Sept. 23.
• 6-feet-6, 182 pounds.
• Turned professional in 2005.
• The highest del Potro had reached in a Grand Slam before the U.S. Open was the semifinals of the 2009 French Open, when he lost to Roger Federer. Del Potro reached the quarterfinals of this year’s Australian Open.
• Now has seven singles titles.
• Seeded sixth in the tournament.
• Highest singles ranking: fifth.
