By ADAM ZAGORIA
NEW YORK — Juan Martin del Potro walked into his post-match press conference looking like a man who had just finished crying.
He had just come off losing the US Open final to his good friend Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 before a capacity crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium.
“To be honest, I was crying till now,” the gentle giant del Potro said. “I’m very sad for being a loser today. But Novak deserved to take the trophy. He played a great match, very smart game. I had my opportunities during second and third set.
But I was playing almost at the limit all the time, looking for winners with my forehands, backhands, and I couldn’t make it because Novak were there every time. He’s a great champion. So I’m glad for him.”
Del Potro, like many of his contemporaries, is playing in an era with three of the greatest players of all time — if not the three greatest.
Roger Federer (20), Rafael Nadal (17) and Djokovic (14) have won 51 combined majors and now rank 1-2-3 on the all-time men’s list. Djokovic tied Pete Sampras by winning his 14th major and second this year.
The “Big Four” of Federer, Nadal, Djokovic and Andy Murray have now won 50 of the last 55 majors. “Yeah, of course, is a big challenge to take these kind of tournaments to them,” del Potro said. “But also I think we are proud to be close to these legends. I’ve been during all my career learning with Novak, Roger, Rafa, seeing them winning these events very often. It’s amazing. I don’t feel sad that I couldn’t win Grand Slams because of them. I am just one of the guys that have lucky to be in the same era as them, and it’s great.” Djokovic, 31, will enter 2019 trying to move closer to Nadal, and ultimately, Federer on the all-time list. Asked if Djokovic could surpass both legends eventually, del Potro said he believed his friend could do it. “Of course he can,” he said. “He has 14 already. He won two Grand Slam in one year. He’s healthy. He has a great team working with him. Hopefully him, Rafa, Roger is still fighting for Grand Slam, because is so nice to watch them fighting for the history. “I mean, we just do what we can against them. But Novak has everything to make records in this sport.” For his part, Djokovic says it’s an honor to tie his hero Sampras, who could not possibly have imagined after winning his 14th major at the 2002 US Open that within 16 years three guys would have tied or passed him? “Pete Sampras is one of the biggest legends ever to play the game,” Djokovic said. “He was my childhood idol. He was someone I was looking up to. The first actually thing I saw related to tennis on the TV was his first or second Wimbledon championship. That inspired me to start playing tennis. “There is a lot of significance of me being now shoulder to shoulder in terms of Grand Slam wins with him. It’s truly incredible when you think about it. I watched him win one of his first Wimbledon championships, and I grew up playing and thinking that one day I’ll be able to do what he does. To actually be here, it’s a dream come true.” Djokovic said playing against Federer and Nadal made him the player he is today. “Maybe 10 years ago I would say I’m not so happy to be part of this era with Nadal and Federer,” he said. “Actually today I am. I really am. I feel like these guys, rivalries with these guys, matches with Federer and Nadal, have made me the player I am, have shaped me into the player I am today. “I have utmost respect for what they have achieved on the court, but also the champions, role models they are off the court. I think we have pushed each other to the limit every time we get to play each other. For me, that was always an ultimate challenge: to play Nadal or Federer anywhere.”Most Grand Slam titles all -time among men:
Federer – 20
Nadal – 17
Djokovic – 14
Sampras – 14 pic.twitter.com/RKY8CgEk1i — Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) September 9, 2018
