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Sky's the limit for Juan Martin
(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-09-16 11:05

NEW YORK: World No 1 Roger Federer had just lost his first Grand Slam final to someone other than second-ranked Rafael Nadal when he pondered the future of his conqueror, Juan Martin del Potro.

Sky's the limit for Juan Martin
Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina celebrates winning the fourth set against Roger Federer of Switzerland during the men's final at the U.S. Open tennis championship in New York, September 14, 2009. [Agencies] 

"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."

That's the next goal for the 1.98m Argentine man-mountain.

"I have many things to improve to be better," Del Potro said. "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."

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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.

"I just want to enjoy this moment," del Potro said. "If I can beat Nadal, Federer and many good players here, maybe I can do it again.

"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. "Maybe next week I will believe in this, but now I don't understand anything," del Potro said.

AFP