Federer Falls To 20-Year-Old Argentine In U.S. Open Final (VIDEO)

Roger Federer hadn't lost a match at Flushing Meadows in six years. Until Monday evening, when 20-year-old Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro defeated the all-time major winner 3-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2 in a five-set thriller. The championship is the first slam title for #6 ranked Del Potro and the first men's title at the U.S. Open for a South American since Argentina's Guillermo Vilas won in 1977.

From the AP:

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 upset No. 3 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals in straight sets.

WATCH Championship Point:

WATCH Federer lose his cool and curse at the chair umpire here.

Comments

[TRYKER]

02:22 PM on 09/15/2009

During the first set, it looked like Delpo was sluggish and tired and hadn't come to play, it was looking like a dull final. But when the kid woke up and started using his cracking forehand to score winner after winner, it really did pick up. What a match!
It was good to see how well Delpo used his head to stay in the game, conserving his serve for the right times...he surely won the match, a feat that few have experienced.
It took the sting out of his win over Roddick and then over Nadal when he won over Roger to top it all off...it wasn't a fluke after all.
Roddick nearly won Wimbledon and we had hoped he would peak at the Open and win it once again. Then we hoped Rafa would be well enough to mount a comeback, but alas his injury hindered him and Delpo walked right through to a win.
Juan Martin Del Potro has developed into a first class player, what a magnificent win...why Huffpo couldn't use his name in its headline is a shame, give the kid a break.
When Roger cursed at the umpire, it almost looked like he was giving Serena a little lift, like saying hey, we all do it, its no big thing.
Mary Carillo overstepped the bounds when she called for her to be suspended and not allowed to play the doubles final. Psst, Mary, that is why they have OFFICIALS.

[judyx]

12:20 PM on 09/15/2009

At least Federer didn't completely ruin Del Potro's win by sobbing like a hysterical little boy like he did when Rafa beat him.

[Mostro]

11:47 AM on 09/15/2009

Stop talking about Del Potro as a member of 'a minority' just because his first language isn't English. It is utterly ridiculous.

[Mostro]

11:50 AM on 09/15/2009

And he's currently ATP's ranking number 5, number 6 when the US Open began 2 weeks ago. It's not like he came out of the blue. The '20 year old Argentine' headline is pathetic.

[texmike]

01:45 PM on 09/15/2009

He DID come out of the blue. Sure, the people who follow tennis closely had heard about him, but most of the public who have only a casual interest in the sport had not. People tend to only remember champions and runner-ups. He'd never come this close to winning a major title before.

Yes, they could have just put his name, but honestly, I don't see what is so offensive about the headline as written. This was a virtual unknown taking down the world number 1 and heavy favorite. "Argentine" was used as a descriptive qualifier, not in some racially disparaging way. If they still refer to him as a "20-Year-Old Argentine" after his NEXT major title, then I'd agree with you.

[MadAppraiser]

12:41 PM on 09/15/2009

Mr. Del Potro is a citizen of Argentina, and tennis is a growing international sport in terms of participants. Professional tennis is much larger than the confines of the country club. The tennis tournament schedules are often as important as preparatory training in terms of athletic results. I hope this fine athlete has competent trainers that will enable him to have a long athletic career with minimal athletic injuries.

Federer's historical positioning is secure in terms of tennis champions. Professional athletes are intense competitors in a world most people only get a small glimpse. The many years and hours of specialized preparation go by in minutes on television.

[NotYourAvg]

11:29 AM on 09/15/2009

white boy gets a pass once again...welcome to "post racial" America. This place is a joke!

[ObliqueReference]

03:25 PM on 09/15/2009

He didn't threaten anybody. You can't threaten an official in any sport. Everyone plays by the same rules.
PS you're a joke.

[hlhicks]

03:35 PM on 09/15/2009

Yes, but you're not allowed to use profanity towards an official either. It didn't reach the level of Serena's outburst but it was an offense and he did get a pass. The similarity is that both outbursts are uncharacteristic for both athletes and it's only a shame that one was blown out of proportion and the other virtually ignored.

[HumanityEqualsLaw]

11:18 AM on 09/15/2009

Del Potro really deserved to win after outplaying both Federer and Nadal. So nice to see new names on the grand slam champions list. I love watching great quality tennis and I wonder if we will ever again get to see something as magical as the 2008 Wimbledon final? Roger will not be around for that long anymore and Nadal looked in the semifinal like he has lost that something from his game.

[Tibbs1]

11:17 AM on 09/15/2009

I think something was wrong with Federer yesterday. He lost more than del Potro won. Serving that poorly -- under 50%???!!! -- and shanking all those groundstrokes. That was not the real Federer out there. There was definitely something that was going on behind the scenes that we don't know about. Either an injury or a fight with his wife or something else. He's battled with all his heart and soul in the fifth sets against Nadal at Wimbledon and Ausrtalia, Roddick at Wimbledon, and even del Potro in the semis at the French Open. That was not the player we saw yesterday, and hopefully we eventually find out what happened.

[databaze]

11:33 AM on 09/15/2009

you would like to think that right? Well since there is no way you can actually know that, then, don't make stupid assuptions just cause your tennis"hero" lost. He LOST because someone played BETTER than him, not because something was wrong behind the scenes, my god some people are just plain stupid.

[Tibbs1]

11:49 AM on 09/15/2009

Well, nice try at an eloquent argument, but not good enough! I still disagree with you. And don't assume Federer is my "hero." I wanted Roddick to beat him at Wimbledon. Something clearly was wrong with Federer yesterday.

[onyx cat]

12:03 PM on 09/15/2009

Look at Roger's stats for the match. Way below his avg for unforced errors and service. I think Del Potro is great, but unforced errors and service errors are not about Del Potro being better than him. It is about Federer not playing up to his usual potential.

Sometimes in tennis you beat yourself. That's why it's such a fascinating game; you fight yourself as much as your opponent.

At least you kept it civil, though.

[texmike]

01:05 PM on 09/15/2009

I would think by this point it's harder for him to keep up the motivation and focus. He's gotten the all-time singles slam record, he's won all 4 majors and he's had the number 1 ranking for most of the last 6 years. Not much left to strive for, other than putting his record further out of reach.

I'm sure he hated to lose, but he knew he still had 15 slam trophies of his own to go home to.

He definitely was off his game, but the credit should still go to Del Potro. He hit some absolutely stunning winners.

[ubd100]

11:06 AM on 09/15/2009

DelPotro outplayed Roger and thats why Roger appeared "listless". I played high school and college tennis. When you are trying your hardest but being outplayed the motivation to play all out goes away. DelPotro could have gave up but he kept fighting. Roger was obviously perturbed and knew DelPotro could beat him, Roger relies on his forehand yet DelPotro had almost double his forehand winners at points in the match. Look at the stats, Roger did not play badly, DelPotro outplayed him. DelPotro is only 20 and so humble compared to Roger who started talking about his winning streak at the Open when given the mic during the awards ceremony?! I mean its DelPotro's day and you lost, be humble and give the credit to the guy who beat you. DelPotro's only 20 he's going to win so many more majors and just become a better player. I remember watching Roger at 20, he was nowhere near as good and consistent as DelPotro.

[tora]

10:54 AM on 09/15/2009

This is why Del Potro won the U.S. Open and Roger lost... and about Serena Williams.. and Mr. Kayne West...
http://seedust.com/

[blueskybigstar]

10:48 AM on 09/15/2009

I should have bet on this.

[Arrech]

10:31 AM on 09/15/2009

Felicitaciones, Del Potro!

[Harrier]

10:19 AM on 09/15/2009

The wheels came off again for Federer. This match was lost. A great match for Del Potro and it's nice to see another face holding the trophy other than Federer or Nadal. With Nadal injured, I suspect, each time Federer falls, we will see more. Federer for a while had a shot at winning all four slams in a row. That is gone along with 6 straight US Opens. Will never happen

[blueskybigstar]

10:45 AM on 09/15/2009

Never is a long time.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

10:11 AM on 09/15/2009

My wife and I watched the 4th set tiebreak and the 5th set.

Congrats to Del Potro.

As to Federer, what the heck happened in Set 5? Five set "thriller?" No. FOUR set thriller. Set five was anything but.

[Lucci]

08:40 AM on 09/15/2009

Federer is still a class act unlike the other hood rat.

Del Potro va a ser el primer Argentino nùmero 1 de la historia. Con apenas 20 años ya es finalista del Us Open y nùmero 6 del mundo. Felicidades !!!

[slb83]

09:01 AM on 09/15/2009

She's not from the hood. Do you think all Black people are from the hood?

[CtJean]

09:30 AM on 09/15/2009

No, but she acts like it.

Roger Federer, Tiger Woods, class acts.

Williams - not so much.

[ReasonIsMyReligion]

10:42 AM on 09/15/2009

Got it.
It's ok to swear at a lines judge if you're white, but not if you're black.

[Kahill]

08:30 AM on 09/15/2009

Federer appeared to be awfully listless and just not into the match. Looked like he couldn’t wait for it to end. Del Porto on the other hand hung in there and ultimately prevailed. Gotta love that kid! But Federer really had a very bad day. You have to wonder what can motivate him anymore to give his best time after time when there is nothing else to achieve.

[Ramus]

07:50 AM on 09/15/2009

Federer had a bad day at the office. He did not serve well nor play his best. That's part of tennis. He'll win more majors but each year it will be harder. DelPo is a terrific player but I think he'll have to have very smart fitness people to prevent getting injured. All the really tall guys seem to have more injuries..we shall see. I think the last player to defeat DelPo was Andy Murray who just didn't show up for the Cilic match. DelPo and Murray are the future of tennis. Roger will win more majors and so will DelPo and Rafa and Murray is bound to win one eventually and then he'll win more. It was a terrific match and they are both terrific players.