Juan Martin del Potro is aiming to win his second Grand Slam title nine
years after his first when he takes on Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic
in Sunday Sep 09,2018's US Open final in New York.
Victory would cap the Argentine's most successful year, in which he has risen to a career-high third in the world.
The 29-year-old reached the final when world number one Rafael Nadal retired with a knee injury in their semi-final.
His first title came at the US Open in 2009 when he beat Roger Federer.
Del Potro has been in excellent form this year - reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals and the French Open semi-finals.
He also won his first 12 sets in a row in New York and won his first two matches in under two hours.
"He's a big-time player. He's a Grand Slam winner," Djokovic said. "He's playing the tennis of his life, without a doubt, in the last 15 months. He's playing some really powerful tennis."
Djokovic is no stranger to big occasions, though, and will be playing in his eighth US Open final.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion has also won eight of his last 10 meetings with Del Potro, including their last three in 2017.
"He's playing so good. He will be the favourite to win on Sunday," Del Potro said. "But I don't know.
When I played Roger [Federer] nine years ago, he was the favourite to win, as well.
"I will try to make the surprise again."
Sixth seed Novak Djokovic can equal American Pete Sampras's tally of 14 Grand Slam titles if he wins on Arthur Ashe.
He has tasted victory in New York on two occasions - beating Nadal in 2011 and Federer in 2015 - but the 31-year-old has also had five defeats, including his most recent against Stan Wawrinka in 2016.
Victory would cap the Argentine's most successful year, in which he has risen to a career-high third in the world.
The 29-year-old reached the final when world number one Rafael Nadal retired with a knee injury in their semi-final.
His first title came at the US Open in 2009 when he beat Roger Federer.
Del Potro has been in excellent form this year - reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals and the French Open semi-finals.
He also won his first 12 sets in a row in New York and won his first two matches in under two hours.
"He's a big-time player. He's a Grand Slam winner," Djokovic said. "He's playing the tennis of his life, without a doubt, in the last 15 months. He's playing some really powerful tennis."
Djokovic is no stranger to big occasions, though, and will be playing in his eighth US Open final.
The 13-time Grand Slam champion has also won eight of his last 10 meetings with Del Potro, including their last three in 2017.
"He's playing so good. He will be the favourite to win on Sunday," Del Potro said. "But I don't know.
When I played Roger [Federer] nine years ago, he was the favourite to win, as well.
"I will try to make the surprise again."
Sixth seed Novak Djokovic can equal American Pete Sampras's tally of 14 Grand Slam titles if he wins on Arthur Ashe.
He has tasted victory in New York on two occasions - beating Nadal in 2011 and Federer in 2015 - but the 31-year-old has also had five defeats, including his most recent against Stan Wawrinka in 2016.
| Novak Djokovic's Grand Slam titles | |
|---|---|
| Australian Open | 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016 |
| French Open | 2016 |
| Wimbledon | 2011, 2014, 2015, 2018 |
| US Open | 2011, 2015 |
Timeline of Del Potro's career
- 2006: Plays first Grand Slam at the French Open aged 17, finishes season as youngest player in the top 100.
- 2009: Beats Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals and Roger Federer in the final to win his first Grand Slam title at the US Open.
- 2010: Climbs to a career-high ranking of four but starts the year with right wrist problems. Has surgery in May and is unable to defend his title in New York.
- 2011: Begins the season ranked world number 258 and finishes it 11th.
- 2012: Climbs to seventh in the rankings and beats Djokovic to win the bronze medal at the London Olympics.
- 2013: Reaches his first Slam semi-final at Wimbledon since his US Open win, losing narrowly to Djokovic. Returns to the top five.
- 2014-15: Has problems in his left wrist and has surgery in March. The injury eventually requires two more operations and Del Potro fears his career is over.
- 2016: He finally returns to the Tour in February ranked world number 1,042. He wins a silver medal at the Rio Olympics and a first Davis Cup title for Argentina. Ends the season ranked 38.
- 2017: Makes his first Slam semi-final in four years at the US Open, losing to Rafael Nadal. Finishes the season ranked 11.
- 2018: Returns to the top 10 in January and wins his first Masters title in Indian Wells. Reaches a career-high ranking of three in August after a semi-final appearance at the French Open and quarter-final at Wimbledon. Reaches US Open final
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