Del Potro Denies Federer

Sports Betting News - September 15th, 2009 - Written by John

This wasn't a place Roger Federer loses. Not Here. Not in the building he had owned over the past six years. Not with the lead. And certainly not to Juan Martin Del Potro, an Argentine with a striking resemblance to Ryan from "The Office".

This was the U.S. Open. And you just don't beat Roger Federer here.

Well, maybe when he double-faults 11 times you do. Rallying from an early deficit (Federer was ahead 3-0 after just 15 minutes) Del Potro was able to hammer back with lightning forehands and serves of over 115 MPH, and won the U.S. Open title Monday night, 3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.

"When I would have a dream," del Potro said, choking back tears on ESPN. "It was to win the U.S. Open, and the other one is to be like Roger. One is done."

The Open was the one place he could count on for respite every year after being hammered about his increasing age and declining ability. Even when he was losing to Rafael Nadal at the French Open and Wimbledon, this was his home. Federer had won 40 consecutive matches at the U.S. Open and it looked like it would be 41 after the first set. Federer dominated the court, sending Del Potro chasing the ball across the baseline like a puppy off it's leash and took a commanding 6-3 lead.

He would go ahead again in the second set, until Del Potro rallied to win a tie break. Then it seemed as if Federer would kick into another gear, breaking Del Potro in the third set after being knotted at 4-all. The kicker came when Del Potro was serving two points away from set-point and double faulted on back-to-back serves.

Federer was back in the lead, poised to take the cup in the fourth set, up 5-4, and Del Potro was down 15-30. But Del Potro rallied, took the game and would never face down the barrel again.

Instead, it was Federer who's faulty service finally led to his downfall. He had 11 double-faults and his first-serve percentage was a meager 50.

"Maybe I look back and have some regrets about it," Federer said after the match. "But, you know, you can't have them all and can't always play your best."

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