Juan Martin del Potro def. Roger Federer
3-6, 7-6(5), 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2
Federer was impossible to stop, having won five straight titles at the US Open and the crowns at the French Open and Wimbledon already in 2009.
Del Potro was not yet 21 years old, and had taken Federer five sets at the French Open, then tuned up for the US by winning the title at Washington DC and reaching the finals at Montreal.
He took out Rafael Nadal in the semifinals, only to fall behind Federer 2-1 in the final. He fought back with incredible tenacity, winning the fourth set 7-6(4) and wiping out the King 6-2 in the fifth to become the first Argentine to take the US Open in 32 years, and the first player ever to beat Federer and Nadal in the same Grand Slam event.
del Potro's overwhelming outpouring of emotion at having won the major makes it all the more enjoyable to watch. Plus, it got him three minutes with Charlie Rose.