Wed, September 16, 2009
Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro sees plenty of room for improvement on Tuesday as he targets more titles after stunning the tennis world with his maiden Grand Slam victory at the US Open.
Del Potro's 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 victory over Roger Federer snapped the Swiss star's five-year title run at the US Open.
"I would like to be top 4, top 3 or top 1 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," said the 1.98m star who is dubbed the 'Giant of the Pampas'.
Del Potro, who turns 21 next week, became the first South American to win a US Open since compatriot Guillermo Vilas in 1977 and the first non-European player to win a major since countryman Gaston Gaudio won the 2004 French Open.
Gaudio was a one-hit wonder who has never since matched his sparkling fortnight on the red clay at Roland Garros, but Del Potro has the tools to fare better with his massive size, booming forehand, formidable forehand and effective speed around the court.
And he beat the world's two top players, Nadal and Federer, in his final two matches to win the title.
"I just want to live this moment," Del Potro said. "I have new opportunities in the other Grand Slams to win. If I here beat Nadal, Federer and many good players, maybe I can do it one more time.
"But of course it will be difficult because I was so close to losing."
Del Potro amazed even himself by rallying from a two sets to one down to beat the player seen by most as the greatest in tennis history after accumulating an all-time record of 15 Grand Slam titles.
"Maybe next week I will be believing in this, but now I don't understand nothing," Del Potro said.
"I think it's the best final ever in my life. If I beat Roger in three sets straight that's better, but it's impossible."
Federer -- who had just lost his first Grand Slam final to someone other than Rafael Nadal -- pondered the future of his conqueror.
"Rafa, we've had some epic great ones over the years," Federer said. "Who knows? Maybe Del Potro is going to join that thing as well."
(Agencies)
