NEW YORK - Normally, so cold, so coherent, so in control of their emotions and their matches, Roger Federer to miss the U.S. Open Championship of reach. Two points from victory against experience, unheralded Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, two points for a sixth straight title at Flushing Meadows and a record 16th Grand Slam extend generally Federer simply collapsed on Monday.
He criticized the umpire. His legs were tired. His double faults mounted. I could not find a way to stop the 6-foot-6 del Potro of hits forehand after forehand with him. In a surprising result for those who lost, how it happened, the sixth-seeded Del Potro came back to win his first Grand Slam title by changing the No. 1-Federer 3-6, 7-6 (5), 4 - 6, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
"You can not have them all," Federer said.
He had won 40 consecutive matches at Flushing Meadows. He had won 33 of his last 34 Grand Slam matches. And he has made the finals in 17 of the last 18 Grand Slam tournaments, 21 in general.
Del Potro? This was the age of 20 years, the first Grand Slam final, and was 0-6 against Federer so far. But after handing over Rafael Nadal, the largest single loss of his career in a Grand Slam in the semifinals on Sunday, Del Potro came back the next day and Federer nervous.
As of Monday, Federer was 2-5 in Grand Slam finals against his nemesis, Nadal, and 13-0 against everyone else. Somehow, the colt never seemed intimidated by the creation or the man who many consider the best tennis player in history.
The unflappable Federer usually discuss with chair umpire Jake Garner during a transition, with a profanity and saying, "Do not tell me my street, okay?" When I talk, talk. "
Del Potro, meanwhile, got his life when young, high-fiving the front row of fans after winning a point, and reveling in football, serenades the style of "Ole!" ringing through the stadium.
The party of 4 hours, 6 minutes was the first U.S. Open final to go five sets since 1999, and there was no initial signs indicate that this competition would be - much less end Del Potro, with his back, gasping, tears, a Grand Slam trophy before being in his arms. He is the first man from Argentina to win the U.S. Open since Guillermo Vilas in 1977.
Vilas was in the stands Monday, sitting a row behind Jack Nicklaus.
A simple indication of the difference in age and state of the two finalists: The 28-year-old Federer scoreboard was filled with friends as a couple of rock stars Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, and Vogue editor Anna Wintour sat next to Federer's parents, wife and agent. Only three of the 15 available seats were occupied at the table Potro.
Federer took a 3-0 lead in 15 minutes, earning one point for the careers of about 5 meters wide of the doubles alley for a defensive setback, then sprint away for a passing forehand cross-court winner that held shouting and shaking fists.
Even had time to watch a replay on a video screen in the stadium. That is not "What truth?"! "Kind of trick shot Federer pulled against Novak Djokovic in the semifinals - a return to the network, between-the-legs, cross-section passing winner to reach match point - but very dramatic, however.
But Del Potro finally be moving more freely and take full advantage of Federer's service woes: 11 double faults and a first class service percentage of only 50.
Used to travel without a coach full time, in general, Federer is very adept at matching the middle of the settings and switches deal with opponents in the strategy. But it was Del Potro, who realized he needed to make fully convinced of the strength of his forehand 100 kilometers per hour and not worry much.
That tactic worked, and Federer never found a way to fight it, lose your head in the second and the fourth set. He rose from 5-4 in the fourth, and 15-30 in Del Potro's serve, Federer needs only two more points to become the first man since Bill Tilden in 1920-25 to win the American Grand Slam tournament of six years in a row.
Del Potro was kept there, and Federer would never come that close again.
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