Eight years later, Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro are finally set for an encore at the U.S. Open.
Federer and Del Potro, who squared off in one of the tournament’s most memorable title matches back in 2009, will be facing each other for the 22nd time overall when they clash during quarterfinal action on Wednesday. Although the Swiss leads the head-to-head series 16-5, the high point of Del Potro’s career came in this matchup when he lifted the trophy in New York with a 3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 triumph.
That result is simply a sampling of their list of epics. Federer prevailed in five sets on his way to the 2009 French Open title, stormed back from two sets down at Roland Garros in 2012, and survived 19-17 in the third at the 2012 London Olympics. From that 2012 battle on the red clay of Paris through the end of 2013, these two friendly rivals played seven consecutive matches that went to final sets–four won by Federer and three by Del Potro.
Speaking of final sets, Del Potro produced an improbable and dramatic performance on Monday just to give himself another shot at the 19-time Grand Slam champion. Looking like “death” due to illness (in the words of commentator Darren Cahill), the 28-year-old Argentine appeared to be down and out after listlessly dropping the first two sets against Dominic Thiem. But out of nowhere, and with some help from Thiem at times, Del Potro roared back for a 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4 victory.
“I [played] one of the epic [matches] of my career here in the U.S. Open, which is my favorite tournament, in front of a great crowd,” the No. 24 seed said afterward. “I’m so glad to go through.”
Federer echoed similar sentiments after each of his first two rounds, glad merely with getting through even though his performances were out of the ordinary. Clearly due to a lingering back issue, the 36-year-old needed five sets to scrape past both Frances Tiafoe and Mikhail Youzhny. Feeling better and once again getting into a grove as an event progressed, Federer raised his level to oust both Feliciano Lopez and Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets.
Thus after a total of 30 total sets played between them, another Federer-Del Potro showdown is here.
“Everybody loves him,” Del Potro said of his upcoming opponent. “(It) is going to be (an) interesting match. It will be after eight years again in the [center] court of this tournament. I know how to play if I want to win, but I will see how physically I feel after this battle. But always (it) is a pleasure to play the greatest guy [in] history.”
“It’s just really nice to see him back playing these kind of matches,” Federer added. “That’s what he came back for, to get crowd support the way he got it. We could even hear it on center court…. He’s a good guy. I know him well. So I’m really happy for him. It’s a good match to look forward to; reminds me clearly of the 2009 finals that we had, which was an epic. I hope we can produce another good one.”
There are two obvious roadblocks that could prevent another good one from happening: Del Potro’s health and Federer’s back. A day off, however, should cure whatever ailed the Argentine, and Federer has looked much better in his last two matches–even though he needed a brief visit from the trainer against Kohlschreiber. If both former champions are 100 percent, an edge goes to Federer based on his showings in rounds three and four combined with Del Potro’s grueling contest against Thiem.
Pick: Federer in 4
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OMG. What kind of insane level this is. Delpo will beat Rafa too.
2 slams for old man in one year is more than enough 🙂
That’s true fg.
for that matter, even if Fed doesn’t win a single match from now on to the end of the season, this would still be considered as one of the best years in tennis given his resurgence. I totally respect what he is doing but right now I really want slam #16 for Rafa lol
Fed is subpar today whilst Delpo plays the best he can in his current conditions (he’s still not near his previous best imo). Fed is clearly not playing the way he played during the early season, so he has to work so hard to win his matches now.
I won’t say subpar. Fed’s played good tennis but yes this is clearly not his best. I think Delpo’s level has shocked him as well.
That is true. It’s unreal the year he has had. But so don’t think Fed is winning it.
Oh boy, Delpo!
Wooooooowwwwww…
he almost chops Fed’s head off…….!!
WHAT THE F*** was that passing shot!
Remember when Fed laughed like crazy when that crazy Lucas Rosol thumped Rafa at Wimby? I’m doing a crazy impersonation of the Fed laugh right now………..
This is crazy!! 😀
Already imagining Rafa facing these missiles from Delpo!!! scary
30-30!
WHAT WAS THAT FROM FEDERER?! he had set the point up!!! Match point Delpo
Delpo is the man!.
I can’t believe it! Really, I didn’t think Delpo would make it……WoW, what a heart , what a champion.
Federer didn’t have his best day, but Delpo played like a real champion.
Interesting statistic: Delpo is 5-4 against Federer when playing indoor.
Unreal. Just unreal. I guess maybe we shouldn’t be as shocked as we are given that Fed has looked not quite himself since Wimbledon. Still, incredible by Del Po. I PRAY that he has something left in the tank for Rafa. If Del Po is just too tired, Rafa should just be handed the trophy now haha.
nopes, he won’t be tired or anything. If rafa is to win , he will have to win the baseline duel.
I expected Delpo’s forehand to be on fire but what surprised me the most was the quality of his serving. Amazing
vr,
Thanks for the reality check! I agree with you! Rafa will have his work cut out for him. Delpo coming from behind in these last two matches will make him battle tested.
Rafa will have to deal with Delpo’s serve!
After this, no one should assume anything!
Yeah he served like a beast!!
If Delpo could come back from the match against Theim, then there is no reason to think he won’t have anything left for Rafa.
I know Rafa will not make that assumption. He will know that he has to be ready.
Vamos Delpo!! Yes, you did it! So happy for you!
Thank you Delpo, Rafa now has his no.1 ranking secured for another few weeks at least. Rafa will have that burden off his shoulders now, so I hope he will play more freely vs Delpo in the SF. Well done Delpo!
ROTFL!!
What goat, the man’s a damn chicken. Weasels out of a Rafa showdown in Paris and now in New York. Guess he wants to protect that 2017 3-0 H2H, kkkkkkkk!
Oh well, Uncle Toni got his wish, Rafa facing someone not named Fed but I don’t think he will be smiling after watching this performance by Delpo. What the heck man, what happened to the flu?
Oh boy………..massive congrats to Delpo, what spirit!
You really think that Federer purposely lost because he doesn’t want to face Rafa? Apparently you have never played a sport in your entire life… Any athlete I know, they want to win, and they want to win against the best. When Rafa says, “I don’t want to face Federer”, he’s just saying that. Everyone knows that all great athletes want to beat the best of the best. That’s the whole point. What would even be the point of playing if people just didn’t want to win?? Also, why wouldn’t Federer want to play a guy he has dominated on hard courts the last 4 times they played? What is the point of trolling Federer and talking shit? What did he ever do to you? If it’s because some of his fans talk shit about Rafa, well then you’re being a hypocrite. This site has gotten so much better about the trolling recently- can we please keep it that way?
Dude… don’t bite that hook
Hopefully Rafa can exploit his backhand and rob Delpo off his forehand.
The stakes are higher and it’s a semis.
If Delpo’s serving is off, Rafa wins in straight.
I like that, Delpo says it’s his home court too, here at AA in NY! He’s such a lovely guy, so we have two lovely guys playing in the SF against each other.
The AA Arena turns into a soccer stadium now, with Delpo’s supporters cheering him like they’re in a soccer match!