Nine years on and Del Potro has all of those weapons in his arsenal still

Looking back, it feels like 2009 was a long time ago and in some ways, it is, as almost a decade has passed since. In the mind of Juan Martin del Potro, it may well feel like an eternity has gone by given that 2009 was the year the Argentine won his one and only grand slam by beating Roger Federer in an epic five-set encounter.

What makes that landmark grand slam victory all the more impressive is that Roger Federer hadn’t lost in a US Open in the five years before that. The Swiss champion started his remarkable run in 2004 and it would only be in 2009 when he tasted defeat again in the US Open Final at the hands of Del Potro.

Juan Martín del Potro wins the 2009 US" (CC BY 2.0) by Boss Tweed

If the chances of a Del Potro victory seemed impossible before the final in 2009 then it’s hard to say how the Argentinian giant fairs now. In the latest US Open odds, Del Potro is +1200.00 to win and it seems that is probably the most accurate description of his chances coming IGNORE INTO the tournament. You get the feeling that it’s not impossible, but it would take a lot to go in his favor if he were to add another US Open trophy to the cabinet.

At 29 years old, the 2018 US Open certainly isn’t the last chance saloon for Del Potro, especially given the longevity some of the sports biggest names are showing as they enter their mid-to-late thirties. As well as age being on his side, the Argentine has a good recent pedigree in the US Open, having made the semi-finals last year. 

It wasn’t to be on that occasion, as Del Potro crashed out after a four-set loss to Nadal. There would have been an overriding feeling of disappointment after the loss having won the first set but then rolling over so meekly to the King of Clay during the next three. Once the dust had settled on that semifinal clash Del Potro would have been buoyed by the fact he was still able to go so deep IGNORE INTO the tournament.

Grand slam victories have been slim pickings for the majority of the tour players over the last 15 years given the domination of the "big four". Instead of looking at Del Potro’s one solitary win as a meager total, he should be praised for being one of the few who were capable of halting the stampeding run of Roger Federer.

Juan Martín del Potro wins the 2009 US" (CC BY 2.0) by Boss Tweed

The FedExpress has steamrolled most of those that have stood in his way but on a late afternoon in 2009 at the Arthur Ashe Stadium, a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed 20-year-old from Tandil had no fear of the oncoming freight train. Del Potro combined a pinpoint forehand that had unfaltering accuracy with a robust serve and with a bit of help from Hawk-Eye, he was able to pull off mission impossible. Nine years on and Del Potro has all of those weapons in his arsenal still and perhaps now they are even more refined. Don't write the 29-year old off when faced with the impossible at the US Open later month.

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