U.S. Open Final: Six-foot-Six ≠ 6

We used to be able to take some things for granted when it came to Roger Federer. But this U.S. Open had one final dramatic event left to imprint on the tennis world's collective memory... and it starred Juan Martin del Potro.

In the past, when the all-time slam champ grabbed the opening set against a nervous slam final novice and was but two points away from taking a two-set lead, as was the case against the Argentine del Potro on Monday, the proceedings were all but over. Even if he flinched for a moment, Federer would right himself quickly and go on to make an example of an opponent who'd made the mistake of challenging his dominance. Then Rafael Nadal came along, and everything changed. His aura damaged, Federer had to rebuild his image.

As 2009 has gone along, after a rough start that saw him unable to top Nadal in the Australian Open final in Melbourne, Federer has managed to do just that. Going into this U.S. Open final, he was looking to tie Bill Tilden's record with a sixth straight crown in New York and set himself up to head Down Under next January with a shot at a "RogerSlam" and a fourth straight slam title. For a bit, it looked as if he might just pull off the feat, but his opponent would have nothing of it.

Of course, not every opponent is as physically imposing as the 6-foot-6 del Potro. Nor do that have as pulverizing a forehand as del Potro, or the intelligence to pull back at times on a powerful serve to keep Federer off balance as he did on Monday. Once del Potro got his game going, Federer simply could not hold off his forward motion toward the title for five full sets. Last summer, del Potro ruled the North American hard courts but flamed out at the Open. A year later, having left his teenage years behind and grown into his large frame, removing all traces of the physical awkwardness most players his size always seem to be hindered by on the court, he entered this tournament with the knowledge that he had the ability to beat anyone in the draw. In the semifinals, he smashed Nadal, allowing just six games in three sets. Next up was Federer.

Federer got off to a strong start, taking the opening set 6-2 and having break points for a 4-1 2nd set lead on del Potro's serve. The Argentine held, but when Federer served at 5-4, 30/love he seemed well on his way to a sixth straight defeat of a sixth different man in the U.S. Open final. But after questioning a replay decision (after a late del Potro challenge) that awarded del Potro a point, and seeming to not be able to get the moment out of his head (after arguing with the umpire during a changeover), Federer began a long, subtle descent toward defeat. He lost the 2nd set tie-break, but grabbed the lead again by taking the 3rd set at 6-4 after overcoming a break up, 4-3 del Potro lead.

In the 4th, del Potro again led with a break at 4-3, but Federer couldn't overcome yet again. He pushed things to a tie-break, but the Argentine claimed another set-decider to send the final of the U.S. Open men's final to a fifth set for the first time since 1999. In the final set, after struggling with his first serve for the entire match, Federer simply couldn't find his way. With his serve flagging, his groundstrokes went off, as well. He never seemed to be able to get a handle on del Potro's powerful forehands, framing returns of serve and in-point shots often. Del Potro raced to a 5-2 lead. Federer managed to save two match points, but he could only hold back his opponent for so long on this day. A backhand shot that sailed long was immediately followed by del Potro crumpling to the ground in the back court, stretched out on his back in amazement at his accomplishment.

Del Potro won 3-6/7-6/4-6/7-6/6-2 in 4:06.

So, while 2009 didn't turn out to be Federer's "greatest" season, four slam finals, including a first at Roland Garros and a return to the throne at Wimbledon (even though he didn't have to defeat Nadal for either), not to mention the re-claiming of the #1 ranking, it certainly ranks amongst them. Not too shabby in a calendar year in which he became a husband and the father of twin girls, as well.

As for del Potro, he's hardly a "shocking" slam champion considering his Top 5 ranking and North American hard court exploits the last two years. No matter what he does the rest of his career, which could be much considering his young age (20) and still-improving game, it'll be difficult to top a 30-hour span in which he defeated both Nadal and Federer on the biggest court in the world to earn this U.S. Open title.

"I have two dreams in this sport, one is the U.S. Open," del Potro said after the match. "The other is to be like Roger. One is done."

2009's slam season began with the sight of Federer's tears after losing a fifth set in Melbourne to Nadal, and now ends with del Potro's watery eyes after his own five-set win over Federer. It's not exactly the fairytale bookends to the season that Federer likely envisioned, but they're surely memorable moments for everyone else.



All for now.

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