Future looks bright for ace Del Potro
JUAN MARTIN DEL POTRO has been touted as a future world No1 following his epic US Open victory on Monday night.
The 20-year-old Argentine claimed his maiden Grand Slam after completing an 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 win over top seed Roger Federer in a four-hour slugfest at Flushing Meadows.
The result ended Federer’s record-breaking five-year reign in the New York event and propelled Del Potro up to a career-high fifth in the world rankings. Some experts believe the 6ft 6in powerhouse has the all-round game to challenge Federer’s standing as the planet’s best player, but Del Potro is keeping his sizeable feet firmly on the ground.
“I have many things to improve to be better,” he said. “I would like to be top four, top three or top one in the future. But I have to play like today many, many weeks in the year.
“I don’t have the shape to do that but maybe if I’m still working and still going in the same way, maybe in the future I can.” Victory sees Del Potro leapfrog Andy Roddick in the world rankings, while his semi-final opponent, Rafael Nadal, reclaimed the No2 spot from British No1 Andy Murray.
Del Potro becomes the only player to have beaten both Federer and Nadal in a Grand Slam and Federer wouldn’t be surprised to see the gritty Argentine make his mark again.
“Rafa and I have had some epic ones over the years,” said Federer who missed out on a 16th Grand Slam. “Who knows, maybe Del Potro is going to join this as well.”
ATP RANKINGS TOP EIGHT
Player Points Pos Moved
1 Roger Federer (Swi) 11,240 0
2 Rafael Nadal (Spa) 8,845 +1
3 Andy Murray (GBR) 8,390 -1
4 Novak Djokovic (Ser) 7,480 0
5 J-M Del Potro (Arg) 6,825 +1
6 Andy Roddick (USA) 5,310 -1
7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra) 3,950 0
8 Nikolai Davydenko (Rus) 3,535 0