Juan Martin del Potro Upsets Roger Federer at the US Open

Call 2009 the year of the fallen giant. A month after friend Tiger Woods lost a 54-hole lead in a major championship for the first time in his career, Roger Federer lost in a Grand Slam final by a guy not named Rafael Nadal.

Juan Martin del Potro did the unthinkable on Monday at the U.S. Open, defeating the 15-time Grand Slam champion after losing the first set to Federer in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Del Potro took the match in five sets, winning 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 for his first Grand Slam title.

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Since the 2005 Australian Open, only one man had won a grand slam that wasn't named Federer or Rafael Nadal (Novak Djokovic, in the '08 Australian). Del Potro had to go through both men to win this championship, a feat incomparable in any other sport in this day and age.

The problem with Federer was simple. He served far from Federer-like. John McEnroe, the voice of the CBS broadcast, continually talked about how Federer was tossing the ball too low, and couldn't adjust, leading to a ton of first serves catching the net.

Normally the type of rare athlete that can change things on the fly, Federer continually looked frustrated when it was his serve, and it showed.

Enough can't be said about del Potro, who came out in the first set as flat as you'd expect a young opponent playing the great Federer. It was turned around with a tiebreak win in the second before an interesting exchange happened in the third set. Del Potro was allowed a challenge after both players were near their seats, leading to an angry exchange between Federer and the chair umpire.

Federer came out firing after that, but it didn't last. After claiming the third set, del Potro won a tiebreaker in the fourth and broke Roger in the second game of the fifth set. The big-hitting del Potro just stuck to his impressive serve after that,

Del Potro joins Guillermo Vilas as the only Argentines to win the U.S. Open, doing it 32 years after Vilas beat Jimmy Conners.

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U.S. Open 2009

NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 14: Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina celebrates championship point after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Men's Singles final on day fifteen of the 2009 U.S. Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on September 14, 2009 in the Flushing neighborhood of the Queens borough of New York City. Del Potro defeated Federer 3-6, 7-6 (7), 4-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Juan Martin Del Potro

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U.S. Open Photos

Roger Federer, of Switzerland, sits in his court side chair while waiting for trophy presentations after his defeat by Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, in the men's finals championship at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)

Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, kisses the championship trophy after winning the men's finals championship over Roger Federer, of Switzerland, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Juan Martin del Potro, of Argentina, reacts after winning the men's finals championship over Roger Federer, of Switzerland, at the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York, Monday, Sept. 14, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina holds his trophy after beating Roger Federer from Switzerland during the final of the 2009 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in New York, September 14, 2009. Del Potro won 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

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Tennis player Juan Martin Del Potro from Argentina kisses his trophy after beating Roger Federer from Switzerland during the final of the 2009 US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, in New York, September 14, 2009. Del Potro won 3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel Dunand (Photo credit should read EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)

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Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina kisses his trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Men's Final US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 14, 2009 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

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Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina hold his trophy after defeating Roger Federer of Switzerland in the Men's Final US Open match at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center September 14, 2009 in New York. AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)

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