Gone was the buccaneer look that Juan Martin del Potro sported during two weeks of the United States Open, where beat Roger Federer in the final and obliterated the Swiss ace's 40-match winning streak to become the newest member of the Grand Slam champions' club.
On Tuesday morning, the Argentine appeared a fresh-faced 20-year-old as he posed for photographers atop of the Empire State Building, in Manhattan, New York.
In an electrifying four-hour tussle featuring countless Federer errors, Hawk-Eye disputes, umpire clashes and high-fives with fans, it was del Potro's red-hot forehand that ultimately shone through and denied the Swiss a modern-era record sixth successive US Open title.
The triumph made Del Potro the fifth singles player to qualify for November's ATP World Tour finals. He joins Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, and defending champion Novak Djokovic for the end-of-season event.
Photograph: Jay Mandal/On Assignment
