There's a New 'Dios' in Town: Del Potro Brings Joy to a Woeful Argentina

There is no doubt that Argentina's immediate sporting future appears gloomy.

After a bright start to Word Cup qualifying over a year ago, the national football team looks nothing short of a disgrace under new coach Maradona. The u-20 selection, six-time and defending World champions from Canada '07 played embarrassingly enough in South American qualifiers last January to miss out on this year's world tournament.

And, to add to all that, the No. 1 ranked Argentine basketball team played so proportionately poorly in this year's FIBA Americas Championship that they were also in great danger of missing 2010's FIBA World Championship in Turkey, although they did just manage to make it through in the end.

As you can see, it is a very tough time for any Argentine sports fan who perhaps isn't a Estudiantes de La Plata supporter.

But, with almost ideal timing, a new Argie sportsman has surfaced with the potential to bring more glory to the sporting world of the South American powerhouses than even Lionel Messi can at this moment. That man is Juan Martin Del Potro.

While the towering 6'6" tenista has been around the scene for a few years already, the world No. 5 has never before made quite a notable impact in the sport, that is until his stunning five-set defeat of Roger Federer in last night's U.S. Open final.

In a match that began with a languid and uninspired Del Potro being torn apart by Federer's brilliant play, no one could have expected that Delpo would win or even last five sets with the Swissman, arguably the greatest player in tennis history.

But, after a series of fightbacks in the middle sets, the Tandil native began his fifth set remarkably, breaking Federer early and never looking back until the final longshot that earned him the trophy.

A humbled and weary Federer could only look on in anguish as he failed to break a U.S. Open record and win his sixth consecutive tournament, which would have made him the first player in the open era to reach so many titles. And, an overwhelmed Del Potro could do nothing but cry, his 20 year old body sprawled out on the court, with his hands over his face in disbelief.

With the victory, Del Potro joins golfer Angel Cabrera on the list of Argentine's to make history this year, after the latter won the U.S. Masters in April.

During his postmatch interview, the lanky and monotone Argie could only mutter up words of happiness and praise. Especially, for his competitor, claiming, "When I would have a dream, it was to win the U.S. Open, and the other one is to be like Roger. One is done." A sharp contrast to Maradona's embarrassing rants of, "I am afraid of nobody. I am Maradona and I can do what I want."

It is truly too great a shame that the image of a victorious and gentlemanly Del Potro will slowly begin to fade as Diego and la Seleccion reenter the picture later this month.

At least, for now, the 40 million Argentinians on the mainland can cheer the fact that there is still hope, at least in the realm of tennis.