10 things you would like to know about US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro

Here are 10 things you would like to know about US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro

1 The Argentine hails from a small town called Tandil located 350 kms south of Buenos Aires. The town has a population of only one lakh but has produced six professional men's tennis playersu00a0Juan Monaco (winner of three ATP World Tour titles), Mariano Zabaleta (won three titles), Maximo Gonzalez (career high ranking of 58), Diego Junqueira (career high ranking of 68) and Guillermo Pu00e9rez-Roldu00e1n, who won nine titles and appeared in 20 finals.

Juan Martin del Potro (left) & Diego Maradona

2 Del Potro estimates 150 to 200 members of his family live in Tandil, and they all gather for celebrations when he returns after winning tournaments. Obviously, these celebrations have been happening more often in the recent past.

3 Things came to a standstill in Tandil during the four-hour US Open final as a majority of its residents watched him beat five-time champion Federer 3-6, 7-6, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2 to lift his first major title.

4 His win sparked off huge celebrations in Tandil that carried on through the night at the Club Independiente. People took to the streets as though Argentina had won the football World Cup.

5 At 6 foot 6 inches, Del Potro is the tallest Grand Slam champion of all time and tallest player in the current ATP Top 10. At 20, the World No 6 is also the youngest player in the current ATP Top 10 and also the youngest player to win four career titles in his first four tournaments.

6 Del Potro is a huge football fan too and played at a decent level. He's a huge supporter of Argentine club Boca Juniors and Juventus. Italian footballer Mauro Camoranesi is one of his closest friends. Such is his love for football that recently he said in lighter vein that he thought of quitting tennis and taking up football.

7 He speaks three languages his native Spanish, English and Italian.

8 He goes by three nicknames Enano meaning midget, Palito meaning stick and Delpo or Del Po
(a short version of his last name).

9 His breakthrough season came in 2008, when he won four consecutive tournaments, topped $1 million in career earnings all this despite a foot full of infected toe nails.

10 Regardless of his instant super stardom, Del Potro, according to locals, will return to Tandil soon and walk the streets without bothering of the glare of publicity.