Given the huge roars from the crowd coming out of the Grandstand court on Tuesday evening at the US Open, you would think Juan Martin del Potro was playing tennis in his native Tandil, Argentina and not in Flushing Meadows, Queens.
The 6-foot-6 Argentine has always been a crowd favorite in New York — and he only added to his legend by overcoming a sickness and a two-sets-to-love deficit to beat No. 6 Dominic Thiem in a thrilling five-setter that many are calling the match of the tournament.
“It was very important because I was trying to retire the match in the second set,” del Potro, 28, said of the crowd support. “Then I saw the crowd waiting for more tennis, waiting for my good forehands, good serves. I took all that energy to change in a good way and think about fight and not retire.
“I did well, and I start to enjoy little bit more about the fans. I think I did everything well after the third set. The crowd enjoy with me all points. It was unbelievable atmosphere.”
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