"I Still Get Chills When I Think About It," Del Potro Looks Back on His 2009 US Open Title

Sixteen years after his historic triumph at the US Open, Juan Martin Del Potro relives the emotions of a legendary match against Roger Federer. Between chills, pressure, and memories etched forever, the Argentine recounts how this match changed his life.

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Adrien Guyot

le 21/12/2025 à 11h30

2 min to read

Del Federer Roger

Juan Martin Del Potro experienced one of the best moments of his career at the 2009 US Open. The Argentine then won his only Grand Slam by defeating Roger Federer, who was coming off five consecutive titles (3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2).

A unique feeling for Del Potro, then aged 20, who never again tasted the joy of a Major triumph, due to the Big 3 and also numerous injuries. In an interview for ESPN, he nevertheless looked back on that day in New York sixteen years ago.

"When you win a Grand Slam tournament, everything changes drastically. Even in terms of contracts: sometimes, you have to go somewhere and participate in events.

You are invited by representatives of equipment, rackets, the ATP. It still moves me today. I sometimes think back to that last game of the final against Roger (Federer) and I say to myself: 'I hope it ends the same way.'"

"When I come to the tournament, I am reminded of it at every moment"

That game was dramatic, because I was leading 5-2, and if I hadn't broken serve at that moment, I would have had to serve next. Closing out the match, the final, against Federer, on my serve to win my first Grand Slam with such pressure...

I don't know if I could have handled it. So I put all my energy into it. It was now or never. And in the end, everything went well. Now, when I come to the tournament, I am reminded of it at every moment: the people who work there are still the same, and everyone comes to see me.

It was a special tournament for me and for everyone who was there at the time, because it was a match against Federer, and nothing like it has happened since. I still get chills when I think about it," Del Potro assured ESPN.