Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro stunned Roger Federer in the US Open quarter-final on Wednesday, upsetting the five-time former champion 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4 in a match for the ages. Federer’s defeat was a bit of a dampener, but del Potro deserved appreciation for his efforts in coming this far in the tournament. Especially when considered that he was on the verge of pulling out of his quarter-final against Dominic Thiem on Monday because of his ill-health.
Twitter provided plenty of emotional responses:
Fedal has given tennis so many riches, but everyone can agree that tennis owed Juan Martin del Potro... a LOT.
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) September 7, 2017
Tonight, a precious moment.
Juan Martin del Potro hands Roger
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 7, 2017
Federer his first Slam loss in over a year, since Wimbledon 2016, winning 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(8), 6-4. #usopen
This is Juan Martin del Potro's first win against Federer, Nadal, Djokovic, or Murray at a Grand Slam since he won the US Open 8 years ago.
— Carl Bialik (@CarlBialik) September 7, 2017
Juan Martín del Potro's win over Roger Federer is his 1st over a Top-5 player this year.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 7, 2017
He was 0-5 entering tonight. pic.twitter.com/3tBuF0KKQn
🇦🇷 Juan Martin del Potro 🇦🇷
— Live Tennis (@livetennis) September 7, 2017
First US Open SF since 2009 ☑️
First Grand Slam SF since 2013 ☑️
First man to beat Federer in a slam in 2017 ☑️ pic.twitter.com/xbUFRxi7dk
Of the 72 players Roger Federer has faced at #USOpen, Juan Martín Del Potro is one of only four he has a losing record against at this Major
— Gracenote Olympic (@GracenoteGold) September 7, 2017
Del Potro’s win also meant that the wait had to continue for Rafael Nadal and Federer to play each other at the US Open, with the Argentine setting up a semi-final matchup against the Spaniard.
Juan Martin Del Potro spoils the party and scuppers all those hopes of a Nadal-Federer match. He's good at doing that.
— Tumaini Carayol (@tumcarayol) September 7, 2017
NYC is still a Fedal free zone.
— Nadal News (@nadalnews) September 7, 2017
A lot of people wanted Fedal in New York.
— Matt Zemek (@mzemek) September 7, 2017
Know something else?
A lot of people wanted good things to happen to Juan Martin del Potro.
Stopping Fedal matches at USO since 2009 pic.twitter.com/xfT1FFFj09
— Casey Bray • (@NoleLisickiFam) September 7, 2017
Fedal fans right now. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/VEswHH3YQ5
— Tennis Memes (@ATPWTAMemes) September 7, 2017
Ticket prices, naturally, crashed in the aftermath of Federer’s upset...
Ticket market is cratering. Heard that late in tonight's match, cheapest seats for Frid were just above $700. Now? Some seats in the $200s.
— Jon Wertheim (@jon_wertheim) September 7, 2017
His game may have towered over Federer, but the “Tower of Tandil” had quite a simple reason about him doing so well at the US Open:
"I think it's my home court too."—Juan Martin del Potro, at the #USOpen
— TENNIS.com (@Tennis) September 7, 2017