Del Potro targets Masters, No.1 ranking

Newly-crowned US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro said he had set his sights on becoming world number one and winning the Masters after being given a hero's welcome home to Argentina on Wednesday.

Del Potro, who turns 21 next Wednesday, upset world number one Roger Federer in five sets to lift his maiden grand slam trophy at Flushing Meadows on Monday.

"It was a dream I had from (when I was) very little, to win the US Open, my favourite tournament," the Argentine, who beat number two Rafael Nadal in straight sets in their semi-final the day before, told a news conference in Buenos Aires.

Del Potro said although it was hard to think of his next steps amid the euphoria and adulation of his momentous victory, becoming world number one was his dream and the end-of-season Masters tournament in London his next target.

"The Masters can be my next objective and it's good that I've already qualified and don't have to be making calculations in my next tournaments," the world number five said.

"I'm just starting out but my new dream is to be world number one," added del Potro, who was met by hundreds of fans jostling for an autograph or at least a glimpse of the champion at Ezeiza international airport on his arrival from New York.

Del Potro, anxious to get to his home town of Tandil 350 km south of Buenos Aires to celebrate with family and fiends, said he was proud to be able to compete as an equal with the world's best but had some way to go to catch up.

"Roger is still a cut above the rest and (number three Andy) Murray is having a great year. I'm trying to close the gap."

Del Potro, who was due to be paraded through the streets of the small town of Tandil on a fire engine later on Wednesday, said he had been amazed at the reaction of fans in New York and Buenos Aires to his victory.

"The recognition was what astonished me most of all," he said, adding that when he left his hotel surrounded by bodyguards he "felt like a Hollywood star".

He said the support he received on the Arthur Ashe court during the final was fantastic. "That's why I say I can't allow myself not to give of my best (in matches)."

Del Potro, who followed Guillermo Vilas and Gabriela Sabatini as Argentine US Open champions, also publicly thanked his coach Franco Davin, who was compatriot Gaston Gaudio's trainer when he won the French Open in 2004.