Del Potro stuns Federer to win US Open

Argentine sixth seed Juan Martin del Potro upset five-time defending champion Roger Federer
3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 to win the US Open men's final on Monday.

The shocker made Del Potro the first South American to win the US Open men's crown since countryman Guillermo Vilas in 1977, winning in his first Grand Slam final appearance to deny Swiss world number one Federer a 16th career Slam crown.

Del Potro dethroned five-time defending champion Federer ending an era to win in his first Grand Slam final.

"I don't have words to explain how I feel," a tearful Del Potro said, noting that a day after the day he called the greatest of his life for making the final, he felt "Much better".

Del Potro, who turns 21 next week, snapped Federer's 41-match unbeaten streak on the Flushing Meadows hardcourts to win 1.85 million dollars and destroyed the Swiss superstar's aura of US Open invincibility.

"I would like to congratulate Juan Martin on an unbelievable tournament. I had a great one but he was the best," Federer said.

"I would have never believed I could win five in a row here. It has been an amazing run for me."

Firing consistent winners, the 1.98m Argentine giant kept the pressure upon the player many hail as the greatest in tennis history, one he had never beaten in six prior attempts, and won after four hours and six minutes.

Del Potro led Federer by two sets in the French Open semi-finals before the Swiss rallied for a dramatic five-set victory.

But there was no such escape this time.

Federer was pushed into a fifth set for only the third time since the start of his championship run, the other times being against Andre Agassi in the 2004 quarter-finals and in last year's round of 16 against Igor Andreev.

Del Potro zipped a forehand crosscourt winner past Federer for a break and a 2-0 lead in the final set and denied the top seed on a break-point chance in the third game on his way to a 5-2 lead.

Federer served to stay in the match but found himself down two match points, both squandered by Del Potro with a wide forehand and a netted backhand.

But Federer's 11th double fault gave Del Potro another chance and he made the most of it, winning when Federer sent a forehand over the baseline.

Del Potro realized he had won, fell to the ground on his back and began to cry.