Del Potro Pulls Greatest Upset in U.S. Open History

Del Potro shocks tennis world, rallies twice to down Federer.

Roger Federer enjoyed 2,200 days of undefeated tennis at the U.S. Open – That streak ended on Monday as 20-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro shocked the world by coming back not once, but twice against the mighty Roger Federer to beat him in five glorious sets, 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.

During the first 19 games of the match, Del Potro looked nervous and lost as if the occasion had completely overwhelmed him. His shotgun serve was shooting blanks and his blistering forehand was missing in action.

But something strange happened around 5-5 in the second set; Del Potro began to believe in himself. Suddenly the booming serve was finding its mark and the forehand began to do its damage. Del Potro evened the match and seemed ready to take down the five-time U.S. Open Champion.

But disaster struck for the young Argentine when he hit two consecutive double faults to throw away the 3rd set. But Delpo would not go softly into the night. He actually seemed invigorated by the loss.

He found his game once again and began dictating the points. Federer began to lose his cool and even pulled a Serena, using audible expletives in front of a national television audience while berating the chair umpire.

Delpo took the fourth set tiebreaker and handled Federer easily in the fifth set. The giant killer blasted Nadal in yesterday’s semifinal and stole the king’s crown tonight. So many great players have tried to knock off Federer during his five-year win streak, but it was bull from Argentina that finally humbled the number one player in the world.

Having followed the exploits of Juan Martin Del Potro all summer long – I was honored to pick Delpo as the man who would end Federer’s long reign of power at the U.S. Open when the tournament began on August 31, 2009.

Here’s a brief list of articles and links chronicling his run through the 2009 U.S. Open Championships:

Monday, August 31, 2009
Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina

Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Murray Melts Down, Del Potro Hungry for More

Saturday, September 12, 2009
Nadal-Federer Final? -- Don’t Count on It: 20-year-old Del Potro prepared to shock the tennis world

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Look for Del Potro to Derail Federer’s Win Streak

Look for Del Potro to Derail Federer’s Win Streak

Del Potro ready to close the book on Federer at the U.S. Open.

The men’s semifinals on Sunday produced some unexpected results – but very little drama. Of course Serena’s meltdown was a tough act to follow.

Rafael Nadal suffered a beat down at the hands of 20-year-old Juan Martin Del Potro. Nadal is the guy who owns the winning record against Federer, but he had no answers for the young man from Argentina.

Del Potro is six-foot-five-inches tall, moves like a cat and serves like cannon. He wiped Nadal off the court 6-2, 6-2, 6-2. No one in recent memory has ever done that to such a fearsome competitor as Nadal.

In the other semi, the score was a little bit closer, but the result was never in doubt. Federer slammed the door on Novak Djokovic in straight sets, 7-6, 7-5, 7-5. Federer never looked the least bit concerned and Djokovic lacked the confidence to pull out the win.

This of course sets the stage for Federer versus Del Potro. Federer has won the last five consecutive U.S. Opens and hasn’t dropped a match here since 2003. That loss was against a different man from Argentina named David Nalbandian, who didn’t even play the tournament this year. Look for the Argentine curse against Federer to resume in the finals on Monday.

Once again, I’m flying into the face of the popular opinion. I think the 20-year-old Del Potro is just what the doctor ordered to bring down the U.S. Open reign of Roger Federer. I picked Del Potro before the tournament began and I’m sticking with him now. Article 8/31/09: Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina

Head to head, Federer owns Del Potro with a flawless record of six wins and no losses. The last time they played on hard court was at the quarters in the Australian Open. Federer humiliated Del Potro down under with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 win.

Hard to argue with stats like that, but Del Potro has found the confidence and the serve needed to win his first grand slam tournament. Forget the past, because the Argentine is ready to make his mark here and now. Watch out "just call me Roger" your incredible win streak will likely end in the finals.

Nadal-Federer Final? -- Don’t Count on It

20-year-old Del Potro prepared to shock the tennis world.

A pair of amazing men’s semifinal matches are on tap for Sunday, but expect the unexpected. Rafael Nadal, who’s fought back from a slew of injuries, will face Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina in the first match of the day. At the conclusion of that match, Roger Federer clashes with the Serb, Novak Djokovic.

Juan Martin Del Potro obviously comes in as the underdog to the six-time grand slam champion, Rafael Nadal this afternoon. Without question, Nadal is one of the most dominant forces in tennis, but he’s not a hundred percent healthy and the 6'5 Juan Martin Del Potro is my pick for this one.

The 2009 U.S. Open Championships will be the coming out party for the 20-year-old Del Potro. He’s a monster on the court with laser-like accuracy and a punishing first serve. Nadal has the heart of a champion, but Del Potro is poised for a major break-through. I picked Del Potro to win the tournament from the start and I’m staying with him - Article: Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina

Look for Del Potro to come through this one in an epic 5-setter.

In the other semi, Roger Federer needs no introduction. He hasn’t lost a match here since 2003 and it would take a Herculean effort from Djokovic to end his streak today. It’s not impossible, Djokovic has beaten him on the grand stage before, but Federer is playing beautiful tennis right now and Djokovic has suffered a few ups and downs.

Federer should make his way to his sixth straight final in four sets.

Wet and Nasty Conditions Looming: Serena and Clijsters Up First – Nadal Match to Resume

On the women’s side, this is the clash that many people hoped for. Serena Williams has yet to blink running through 5 rounds of tennis like she was on vacation. The “Working Mom” Kim Clijsters is one of the great “feel good” stories of the tournament.

Clijsters won’t feel good for long. She’s been very impressive so far, but no woman on the planet is match for Serena right now. Williams serves too well, moves too fast and hits too hard for anyone to pose a serious threat. But Clijsters had a great run.

After that match wraps up, Rafael Nadal will resume his contest against Fernando Gonzalez. Nadal’s match got suspended last night, not once, but twice. Rafa is up a set and on serve in a 2nd set tiebreaker by a score of 7-6, 6-6(3-2).

Nadal aggravated an abdominal injury last night, but should be able to push past Gonzalez. The cold and wet conditions are apparently compounding the injury issues for Nadal and today’s conditions won’t be any better than the weather was last night.

Although advancing to the semis would be a great accomplishment for Nadal, he would run into the red-hot Juan Martin Del Potro. Del Potro struggled with the wind early in his match against Marin Cilic, but then overcame the conditions and swatted Cilic away 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-1.

No one wants a piece of Del Potro including Nadal. But Nadal has pressing issues to take care of this afternoon, before he can worry about the semis.

A Summer Off May Be Exactly What Nadal Needed

Rafael Nadal proves it time and again - Never count him out!

Very often, I'm not happy to admit that I was wrong, but this time is different. Plagued by a summer of knee issues, few writers thought they would still be covering Rafael Nadal during week 2 of the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, but here he is - playing Fernando Gonzalez in the quarterfinals.

Rafa’s knees have come through with flying colors and he’s done well to overcome an abdominal injury earlier in the tournament. He was pushed to the limit in a four set win over French strongman, Gael Monfils in the 4th round. Nadal split two of the most physical sets you’ll ever see against Monfils before taking him out in four sets.

Going back to today’s quarterfinal matchup - Nadal has easily beaten Gonzalez five straight times and today should be no different. Gonzalez has a 3 and 6 lifetime record against Rafa and two of those wins have come on hard courts, but that is ancient history. If Rafa holds up physically, he should win this one in straight sets.

In the other quarter, my pick to win the tournament has me a bit worried now. When I picked Juan Martin Del Potro to steal his first grand slam title away from Federer this year, I foolishly never thought he might have to encounter Nadal. I’m staying with Del Potro for now, but I may change my mind for the next round.

Of course I’m way ahead of myself right now – for Del Potro to get to the semis, he must take out Marin Cilic from Croatia. I don’t think that’s going to be much of a problem for him, but that’s why they lace up the sneakers. Look for Del Potro to cruise past Cilic in four sets and meet Rafa in the semis.

Murray Melts Down, Del Potro Hungry for More

Andy Murray: Missing in action, knocked out in the 4th round.

Most experts in the tennis world felt that the time had come for Andy Murray and the United Kingdom. Most experts were wrong. Andy Murray got dropped on Arthur Ashe Stadium today by Marin Cilic from Croatia and I’m not really sure why.

Andy Murray fell off the face of the earth after the first set losing 7-5, 6-2, 6-2. Cilic didn’t do anything particularly impressive, he just kind of showed up.

Murray displayed no real fight and not much emotion. He went out there, got his butt kicked and left. Not much more to say except that the people in the U.K. are going to be pissed when they see the low-lights from this match..

Cilic earns (sort of) a quarterfinal matchup against the 6th seed Juan Martin Del Potro, my pick from the start to win the whole darn thing. ((Article: Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina)) It’s safe to say that I’m in the overwhelming minority here.

Del Potro wasn’t a popular pick when I selected him to shock the world and win the Open and he still isn’t. Regardless of that fact, this six-foot-six Argentine has been racing around this tournament punishing his opponents with remarkable speed and sledgehammer-like power.

He treated Juan Carlos Ferrero like a speed bump, thumping him 6-3, 6-3, 6-3. I believe that even the mighty Federer will wilt under the barrage that Del Potro will bring to him. Stay Tuned!

Day 9: Kim Clijsters in Search of the Semis

Some outstanding headlines on tap for Day 9 at the 2009 U.S. Open Championships including the breathtaking comeback of unseeded Kim Clijsters and her return to professional tennis. Clijsters won a thriller against Venus Williams during the weekend and says it is these types of moments -- that made her long for a return to the game.

She took Labor Day (yesterday) off without hitting so she would be fresh for her early afternoon quarterfinal match against the 18th seed, Na Li from China. Clijsters, the 2005 U.S. Open Champion has to be the favorite in this one having already dispatched Venus in three tough sets. Look for her to cruise to a straight set victory today.

Serena Williams, a three-time U.S. Open Champion is playing in the other quarterfinal against Italy’s Flavia Pennetta. Pennetta has enjoyed a remarkable run in this tournament, but Serena is playing on another level right now. If Italian veteran manages more than 6 games against Serena in the entire match, that would be an accomplishment.

On the men’s side, "My Darkhorse Pick from Day I" 6th seeded Juan Martin Del Potro should have no trouble today against the 24th seed, Juan Carlos Ferrero. Del Potro had some injury issues in his last match, but says he’s feeling great again. I still believe (perhaps foolishly) that Del Potro will claim his first grand slam title here against Roger Federer on Sunday. He's too tough and too fast and is ready to shock the world.

Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal remain on a semifinal collision course. But Nadal has to get past a tricky fourth round match against the Frenchman, Gael Monfils. Nadal reaggravated an abdominal strain in his 3rd round match against Nicolas Almagro and had to get taped up during the match. Monfils has also had some injury issues, so health will be a factor for both players. Look for Nadal to advance in four sets.

As for the second seeded Andy Murray, he’s had some up and downs in this tournament so far, but should take care of business rather handily against the 16th seed, Marin Cilic from Croatia.

Roddick Will Falter on the Swiss Alps -- Beware the Dark Horse from Argentina

         Could Del Potro make a run at the 2009 US Open?

In the top half of the men’s draw, Andy Roddick finds himself on the same side as Roger Federer. Andy’s dismal record against Fed is not really worth repeating, but let’s give the American props if he advances to the semis to face Federer this year. Yes, Andy R. had a great Wimbledon and most Americans (myself included) hope he can break the SWISS curse at the US Open in 2009, but don’t count on it.

Nadal’s injury recharged Federer and gave him a new lease on his already storied tennis career. His confidence is sky-high since he took back the number one ranking winning both the French and Wimbledon this year. The only half decent threat to Federer before the semis is the young American and 22nd seed, Sam Querrey. Querrey had a terrific summer on the hard courts, but isn’t quite ready to conquer the Swiss Alps.

No one is even talking about the fourth seed, Novak Djokovic. It wasn't that long ago that Djokovich was being heralded as the next true force in tennis. Nobody is even whispering his name at this year's U.S. Open. That is a major oversight. Roddick would have to best Djokovic in the quarters just to get a shot at Fed.

What’s really interesting in the bottom half of the draw is my dark horse pick, Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina. This guy is a piece of work. He’s a giant that covers the court like a wide receiver. He serves lights out and could give second seeded Andy Murray the same treatment he got from Roddick at Wimbledon. The guy has no fear and fires winners from every position on the court. Many people say this might be Murray’s coming out party, but I’m putting my money on Del Potro. Whoops, no betting in tennis!

The bottom half of this draw is a nightmare for the third seeded Nadal who is trying to return from a variety of injuries. He has a rough first round clash with the Frenchman Richard Gasquet, once the number seven player in the world. If Nadal somehow advances into the quarters, he could run into another Frenchman, seventh seeded, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. I don’t see Nadal going that far anyway and I would be very surprised to see him make it to the second week of the 2009 Championships.