has ended Roger Federer's run of dominance at the U.S. Open, stunning
the top-ranked Swiss great in five sets to win in his first Grand Slam
final.
The 20-year-old Argentine prevailed
3-6, 7-6 (7-5), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2 on Monday night to snap Federer's
streak of five straight U.S. Open titles. The sixth-seeded del Potro
had been 0-6 in his career against Federer.
Federer had won 40 consecutive
matches at Flushing Meadows. He was seeking to become the first man
since Bill Tilden in 1920-25 to win the American championship six
straight times and the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to win three
straight majors in a season.
Del Potro upset No. 3 Rafael Nadal in the semifinals in straight sets.
Also on Monday, Serena Williams and sister Venus teamed up
for a 6-2, 6-2 victory over defending champions Cara Black and Liezel
Huber to win their 10th Grand Slam doubles title, and first at Flushing
Meadows since 1999. Not surprisingly, the sisters answered very few
questions about doubles when it was over.
During a post-match interview on the
court, ESPN2's Patrick McEnroe prodded Serena about her profane
outburst at the end of her loss to Kim Clijsters and its aftermath.
Williams had issued an apology shortly before the doubles match, saying
she is "a woman of great pride, faith and integrity, and I admit when
I'm wrong."
It was a more contrite statement than
the one she released the day before — when she was socked with a
$10,000 fine for acting in a "threatening manner," according to
tournament director Jim Curley. But when McEnroe tried to ask her "what
clicked in your head" that led to the new statement, the crowd started
booing.
"I think what the crowd is saying is, 'Patrick, let's move on,'" Venus Williams said.