US Open 2024 – 15 years ago: Del Potro, thunderous first, regrettable last

Imagine for a second that Roger Federer had won that day the two points he needed to clinch a 6th consecutive US Open, synonymous with a new Little Slam, 2009 joining its little brothers of 2004, 2006 and 2007. No one would have really blamed Juan Martin Del Potro. What would have been said if the young Argentinian giant had stumbled on the Swiss monument? Probably that he had time. His whole future ahead of him. That his time would come. That it was only a postponement. Except that in sport, as in life, you are never sure of having time. Because you know nothing about the future, starting with your own.

It is always nice to watch the great matches of the past, especially the great finals. This one, stretched over five sets and a little over four hours, was not unpleasant at all. But it is also instructive, sometimes even tasty, to dwell on the comments made at the end of the duel. Starting with those of the protagonists.

That day, for Roger Federer, was almost a historic defeat. It seemed crazy, but until then, he had never lost a major final against a player with a surname other than Rafael Nadal. At Roland-Garros, of course, in 2006, 2007 and 2008, at Wimbledon in 2008, and at the Australian Open in 2009. He had beaten everyone else, everywhere, all the time, wherever they came from and regardless of their age. From Philippoussis to Roddick, from Baghdatis to Gonzalez, from Djokovic to Murray, from Agassi to Söderling. Then Del Potro arrived.

Monfils ends Schwartzman’s adventure in the first round

Carpe diem with Argentinian sauce

Like almost any normal human being, Federer saw in this New York victory at the Tandil Tower the beginning of something. Certainly not an end, a culmination. When reminded in a press conference that only Nadal had gotten the better of him so far with a major trophy at stake, the Basel native did not rule out anything for his executioner of the day: “He deserves this victory. He played very well. We had epic fights with Rafa, that’s for sure. But who knows, maybe now Del Potro will invite himself regularly in these duels. I wish him the best for the future.“It’s Djokovic who will play this role, or even Murray to a lesser degree.

The new triumphant, himself, never wielded arrogance, boasting or loudmouth. In the heat of the moment, he obviously considered the possibility of conquering other kingdoms, or of reigning once again over that of the Queens, but a touch of prudence, almost moving in hindsight, already enveloped his words.Maybe I will have other opportunities to win a Grand Slam, since I did it here, the Argentinian said. But it will be difficult, look how close it was today.” Then this sentence: “I don’t know, I just want to enjoy the moment“Wise resolution, this carpe diem with an Argentinian twist.

If you had taken a poll after the US Open, an overwhelming majority of observers would have voted A if the following choice had been offered:

According to you, Juan Martin Del Potro…

A. Will win more Grand Slam titles

B. Will never win a Grand Slam tournament again

It was logical. Almost inevitable. Because he was already so strong, so young and he had just gone to get this victory by crushing Rafael Nadal in the semi-final before taming Roger Federer in the final. Even stronger than Novak Djokovic a year and a half earlier in Melbourne, since the Serb had needed to inaugurate his record “only” to beat a mononucleosis Federer, before pushing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga onto the last step of the staircase of glory, where there is always only one place for two.

Djokovic, Alcaraz, Sinner: room for doubt?

Djokovic 1, Del Potro 1

Del Potro was then tied with Djokovic, a year his senior. 1-1. Today, we are at 24-1 for the Serb and 37-2 in the number of finals. Not only has JMDP not lifted a trophy again, but he will have to wait nine years to have a chance at the title again. At the US Open, again, in 2018. Against Djokovic, who will not give him a chance. This time, one could legitimately wonder if there would be a new chance for him. There was none.

The crystal-weaved Tandil Terminator has suffered not one, not two, but an incalculable number of injuries that everyone, including him, has stopped counting. A rather unbearable and unfair waste, placing him in a good position in the elite of “What ifs?” What if his body had left him alone? He had everything else. Weapons, including a fatal one, the physique, notwithstanding its intrinsic fragility, and the soul of a champion, capable of overthrowing the highest mountains.

He fought and sometimes won huge battles, often sketching the hope of a thunderous return. But there were only “near triumphs”, even if the Argentine victory in the Davis Cup in 2016 was magnificent. Seeing him again in the final in New York had been a pleasure in 2018. Just before challenging Djokovic in the final, he had returned to the bottom of the hole that had been his two or three years before: “In 2015, I almost gave up everything. I couldn’t find any solution for my wrist. I had a breakdown. I thought it was over..”

Today, it’s all over. In fact, after the 2018 US Open final, he only played one more Grand Slam tournament, Roland-Garros in 2019. Everything went wrong again, for good. Last spring, he lamented having admitted defeat to his own body.He was the one who decided on my retirement.“, he recalled.

September 14, 2009 marked the coronation of Juan Marin I. The first of a long series, we thought serenely. It was Del Potro’s great first and last. He didn’t have time. He had to take everything that day and if his story is frustrating, it is still magnified by this date, this victory. Quantity does not always say everything. Quality, yes. It was the crowning of a true champion betrayed by himself. But he has the merit of existing.