Del Potro headlines dark horses trying to halt Federer-Nadal final

At 6-foot-6, Juan Martin Del Potro has the reach and touch to dominate around the net. AP

NEW YORK -- He arrived as the dark horse.

Blessed with a rangy frame (6-foot-6, 172-pounds) and an unforgiving forehand, Juan Martin Del Potro, winner of his previous four tournaments and 19 matches, charged into the U.S. Open as the hottest professional on tour. Since losing to Roger Federer -- then the world's No. 1 -- in Wimbledon's second round on June 25, the 19-year-old repaired to therapeutic clay court events in Stuttgart, Germany, and Kitzbuhel, Austria, winning both in July. For August in America, he dismissed native son Andy Roddick in Los Angeles and took unseeded Serbian Viktor Troicki in straight sets to capture the Legg Mason title in Washington, D.C. "I do not know why they are all coming now," said Del Potro, who rested before the Open by skipping a tournament in New Haven, Conn. "It's a sensation that I cannot really explain.

On Saturday night, after a five-set match that stretched just short of four hours, the Argen-teen defeated Frenchman Gilles Simon, galloping into to the Open's fourth round and second week. "I feel happy because I won," said Del Potro, who won 6-4, 6-7 (4), 6-1, 3-6, 6-3. "But I cannot move anymore."

His movement during the match did not always put him in a position to win. Despite recording serve speeds as high as 132 mph, he double-faulted seven times and committed 73 unforced errors to Simon's 49. In the fifth set, though, he found the breaks that allowed him to put away Simon, who is ranked one spot ahead of him as the world's No. 16 player. "If I am to lose, this is how I would like to," Simon said.

Across the East River from Wall Street, Del Potro, who hails from the quiet town of Tandil, a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Buenos Aires, continues to watch his stock rise. On Monday, he beat compatriot Guillermo Canas in four sets. After dropping the first set, Del Potro subsequently lost the first game of the second set and then lost his cool. Hot at himself, he slammed his racket, chipping off a top piece and earning a racket-usage violation. From there on, he broke Canas and grinded to a tiebreak win. "There is a passion in me," Del Potro said.

There is a belief in him by fans from Argentina as well. During each match, Argentinian flags are waved, soccer jerseys are worn and "Ole!" chants emanate from the stands. Thursday's second round match pitted him against Brazilian Thomaz Bellucci, and the back-and-forth between the two soccer-crazed nations' fans resembled that of a World Cup battle. "It is like a Davis Cup atmosphere," said Del Potro, who has become enamored with the store Best Buy in America and retreats from the streak to his hotel room to play as Inter Milan on his Playstation purchased from the store.

Walking in between Armstrong and Ashe Stadiums to his locker room Monday night, Del Potro was trailed by a cabal of fans, some wearing Argentinian soccer team attire and calling his name and "Look at me! Look at me!" Seizing an opportunity to satisfy one female fan's request, he stopped, pulled a used red shirt out of his bag and gave it to her. "That's a man!" she yelled.

When he was a seven-year-old boy, the rising star's father, Daniel, put a racket in his hand, and while he played soccer as a youth, he decided to pursue tennis rather than go the Messi route. Argentina's Davis Cup coach, Guillermo Vilas, remembers meeting him at his house five years ago. "He was so thin it looked like he'd break if you hit him," said Vilas, who notes the only two certainties for the team are Del Potro and seventh-seeded David Nalbandian, who bowed out, 6-3, 6-4, 6-2, to 32nd-seed Gael Monfils Saturday.

Playing in his third Open, Del Potro will now prepare to perform in the second week for the first time. No one is expecting Del Potro to play the foil to a potential Wimbledon rematch of the Federer-Rafael Nadal final, but here comes Del Potro, facing Japan's Kei Nishikori, who upset No. 4 seed David Ferrer Saturday night, next. After he defeated Simon, the crowd clamored for an encore. Into the night, they chanted, "Ole, ole, ole, ole, Po-tro, Po-tro!"