Upset! Del Potro Shocks Federer in Five-Set U.S. Open Championship

Federer might be shocked by the result, but he's not showing it: He politely complimented del Potro for being the best player in the tournament. (Federer? Polite? Never!) Meanwhile, del Potro said last night was the greatest night of his life and that tonight was even better, and that he idolizes Federer and always will. Good stuff all around. Somewhere, Brock Lesnar should take a few notes.

The greatest champion in tennis history was slayed tonight by the forehand of a 20-year old from Argentina.

Juan Martin del Potro beat Roger Federer in five sets in the men's final at the U.S. Open tonight, 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2.

The powerful forehand of del Potro was too much for Federer, who hit as many unforced errors as he did winners in an uncharacteristically sloppy match for the defending five-time champion.

Juan Martin del Potro leads Roger Federer 5-2 if the fifth set and looks even fresher than he did in the first set. Federer will serve next at 2-5.

After an early break of Federer, del Potro leads 3-0 in the fifth set.

First to six (or seven) wins.

Juan Martin del Potro won a fourth set tiebreak to force a fifth, and deciding, set in the men's championship at Arthur Ashe Stadium.

It's the first fifth setter in a final since 1999.

With del Potro leading 4-2 in the fourth set tiebreak, a fan yelled "out" on a Juan Martin del Potro forehand. Federer stopped playing and then protested to the chair ump. After about 20 seconds, Federer challenged the call and, amazingly, won. The point was replayed, with del Potro winning again.

The irony of waiting 20 seconds to challenge a call seemed to be lost on Roger, but not del Potro.

We're in a fourth set tiebreak at Arthur Ashe Stadium. If Federer wins, he earns his sixth straight U.S. Open. If del Potro wins, he'll extend this match to a fifth, and deciding, set.

Del Potro took a second set tiebreak, just the fourth out of 22 Federer had lost in his Grand Slam final career.

Three hours into their U.S. Open final, Roger Federer and Juan Martin del Potro are on serve in the fourth set, with Federer leading 5-4 and up two sets.

Del Potro is now serving to extend the match.

As Eamonn mentioned earlier in a commentary, Roger Federer had a mini-tirade against chair umpire Jake Garner today. Here's the insta-YouTube clip, complete with Federer saying "s***". For some reason, it sort of sounds like the first time I heard my mom say it.

Roger Federer broke Juan Martin del Potro to take the third set, 6-4 in the U.S. Open men's championship.

The victory came after an uncharacteristic tirade from the five-time defending champion about a delayed challenge call by del Potro.

After an extremely long challenge decision by Del Potro was granted by the umpire, Federer went off, which, if you’re talking about Federer, means the Swiss slightly raised his voice and threw a curse word or two in the mix for good measure.

It wasn’t exactly McEnroe-esque, but Federer told the ump “don’t tell me to be quiet,” and that “he didn’t give a s***” about Del Potro’s deliberation. That was when CBS cut away.

Very entertaining stuff. Federer is being tested here, and it’s getting to him. Plus, he really hates that stupid challege system. 2 + 2 = 4, etc.

For what it's worth, John McEnroe just said, in regards to the challenge system, that "everyone cheats" and the "system is a joke." Federer's frustration is not without merit.

After del Potro's thrilling tiebreak win, the six games of the third set have passed quickly and without any incident. Half of the service games have been decided at love.

It's now 3-3 in the third set.

It's now best two out of three for the U.S. Open men's championship.

Down a break in the second set, Juan Martin del Potro came storming back to take the set in a tiebreaker, winning 7-5 after having three match points at 6-3. It looked dicey for an instant after del Potro blew the first match point with an easy overhead that sailed long, but when the Argentine got his serve back he hit a sideline winner.

Federer had been 18-3 in tiebreaks in Grand Slam finals.

Juan Martin del Potro's first break of the U.S. Open men's final came at the right time.

With Roger Federer serving for a two sets lead, del Potro hit a passing forehand winner to give him his first break of the six-time champ and just the eighth against Federer so far this tournament. It's now 5-5 in the second.

Game on.

No news is bad news for Juan Martin del Potro.

The No. 6 seed has yet to make up Roger Federer's early second-set break and trails 3-5 after dropping the first set.

This match has been there for the taking for del Potro. Federer hasn't served well, but del Potro has been unable to capitalize.

Another set, another early break for Roger Federer.

The five-time defending U.S. Open champ broke Juan Martin del Potro in the first game of the second set then held off multiple point in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead in the second set of the men's final.

Some minor controversy ensued on the third deuce point of the fourth game when Federer served an ace that was called back after del Potro broke his stance due to seeing a cup fall from the crowd. The point was replayed and Federer lost, which gave del Potro his second of three eventual break points. He was unable to capitalize.

They were the Argentine's first break points of the match.

John McEnroe on Juan Martin del Potro's opening set:

"This is about as bad a start as he could hope for."

An easy service hold gave Federer the first set. Much like his pal Tiger, Federer is tough to beat once he gets that early lead. But it happened to Woods at the PGA Championship, so maybe there's hope for del Potro yet.

A huge hold for del Potro at 2-5 in the first set. Federer had three breaks points but the Argentine won five straight points to get back to 3-5.

Federer will now be serving for the first set.

Earlier on CBS, John McEnroe stated that he thought that Novak Djokovic never believed he could beat Federer in their semifinal match yesterday and that Federer sensed this and pounced. He claimed that if Federer felt the same thing about Del Potro, this could be a quick final.

After the early break, Federer and del Potro have exchanged wins in two services games each.

Del Potro continues to struggle with his second serves though, winning just 27 percent of those points. Two aces to close his last service game may help his confidence though.

After 20 minutes of talk, highlight packages and that creepy dude from American Idol singing "God Bless America", we're finally underway at the U.S. Open in the men's final between No. 1 seed and five-time defending champion Roger Federer and No. 6 seed Juan Martin del Potro.

Federer held his opening service game with ease and broke del Potro after the Argentine struggled with his his first serve. The winning point of the second game came after a thrilling rally that was capped by a lunging cross-court winner from Federer. 

It's a disconcerting start for del Potro, who looked very tight in his first Grand Slam final appearance.