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A shocking collapse: Federer falls apart in loss to del Potro
AP Photo
Juan Martin del Potro pulled off one of the most stunning upsets in the history of the U.S. Open last night.
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Published: September 15, 2009
NEW YORK - Always so cool, so consistent, so in control of his emotions and his matches, Roger Federer amazingly let the U.S. Open championship slip from his grasp.
Two points from victory against inexperienced, unheralded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, two points from a sixth consecutive title at Flushing Meadows and a record-extending 16th Grand Slam title overall, Federer, quite simply, fell apart yesterday.
He railed at the chair umpire. His legs grew weary. His double-faults mounted. He could not figure out a way to stop del Potro from pounding forehand after forehand past him. In a result as shocking for who lost as how it happened, del Potro came back to win his first Grand Slam title by upsetting No. 1-seeded Federer 3-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
"Maybe I look back and have some regrets about it," said Federer, never before beaten by anyone other than Rafael Nadal in a major final. "But, you know, you can't have them all and can't always play your best."
He had won 40 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows. He had won 33 of his previous 34 Grand Slam matches. And he has made the final at 17 of the past 18 Grand Slam tournaments, 21 overall.
Del Potro? Seeded No. 6, this was his first Grand Slam final, and he was 0-6 against Federer until now. But after handing Nadal the most lopsided loss of his Grand Slam career in the semifinals Sunday, del Potro came back the next day and rattled Federer.
"I would like to congratulate Juan Martin on an unbelievable tournament. I had a great one myself, too," Federer said, "but he was the best."
That's some compliment.
Somehow, del Potro never seemed intimidated by the setting or the man that many consider the greatest tennis player in history.
The usually unflappable Federer argued with chair umpire Jake Garner during a changeover, using a profanity and saying, "Don't tell me to be quiet, OK? When I want to talk, I talk."
He also got steamed while up a set and serving at 5-4 in the second. Del Potro, 20, tried a forehand passing shot that was called wide, but he challenged, and the replay system showed he was right. Federer kept glancing at the mark that the shot left on the blue court, even into the next game, and del Potro wound up stealing the set.
"That one cost me the match, eventually," Federer said.
Del Potro, meanwhile, managed to have the time of his young life, high-fiving front-row fans after winning one point, and reveling in the soccer-style serenades of "Ole" ringing through the stadium.
"When I would have a dream, it was to win the U.S. Open, and the other one is to be like Roger. One is done," del Potro said during the on-court ceremony.
The 4-hour, 6-minute match was the first U.S. Open final to go five sets since 1999, and there were no early signs to indicate that it would be this competitive -- much less end with del Potro down on his back, chest heaving, tears welling, a Grand Slam trophy soon to be in his arms. He is the fifth-youngest U.S. Open champion and the first man from Argentina to win the tournament since Guillermo Vilas in 1977.
Vilas was in the stands yesterday, sitting one row behind Jack Nicklaus.
Used to traveling without a full-time coach, Federer generally is quite adept at making mid-match adjustments and dealing with opponents' switches in strategy. But it was del Potro who realized he needed to put full belief in the strength of his 100 mph forehands and not worry about too much else.
That tactic worked, and Federer never found a way to counter it, losing leads in the second set and the fourth set. He was up 5-4 in the fourth, and at 15-30 on del Potro's serve, Federer needed only two more points to win the championship.
Del Potro held steady there, and Federer would never come that close again.
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