US Open champ home to cheers of ‘Ole, Del Pooo’ (16th Sep 2009)

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP)—After winning the U.S. Open, Juan Martin has another goal.

“My dream is to be No. 1, but it

will be a long road,” he said Wednesday at a news conference after arriving in Argentina. “Today there are players much better

than me.”

Del Potro was greeted at the Buenos Aries airport by chants of “Ole, Ole” and “Del Pooo, Del Pooo,” the kind of revelry usually reserved for Argentine soccer stars. Reporters and TV cameras jostled for space as he signed autographs, never losing his smile despite the mayhem.

Del Potro is ranked No. 5, a bit behind top-ranked Federer, whom he beat in Monday’s U.S. Open final. Del Potro’s upset victory—3-6, 7-6 (5), 4-6, 7-6 (4), 6-2—has boosted morale in Argentina, where the national soccer team is struggling to make next year’s World Cup in South Africa. Argentina last missed qualifying in 1970.

The highlight of his arrival in Argentina was expected to come later when he returns to his hometown of Tandil, about 200 miles south of Buenos Aires. The city of 100,000 was expected to hold a parade in his honor. He will be designated the official “sports ambassador” and receive a key to the city.

Asked to recall his victory over Federer, Del Potro just smiled.

“I still don’t understand a thing,” he said. “I haven’t had time to relax. I’m on automatic pilot.”

Del Potro, the first Argentine man to win the U.S. Open since Guillermo Vilas in 1977, said he used his underdog status for motivation.

“There were critical moments when I thought I would lose,” he said. “On the other hand, I thought I had nothing to lose. It was Federer’s 21st (Grand Slam) final and my first. I just kept running until the final point. I think I realized I could win in the final set when I broke his serve.”

The 20-year-old said he didn’t think the victory would change him.

“I’m not going to change who I am,” he said. “I’ve only fulfilled a big dream I had, but I’ll still have the same friends. This is something important to keep my feet on the ground. And I have my coaching and training staff around me, and my family.”