Sport: US Open men's final in pictures

Juan Martín del Potro, the 20-year-old Argentinian, went into the US Open tournament as the sixth seed and, en route to the final, crushed Rafael Nadal Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

His opponent in the final, Roger Federer, was chasing a record-equalling sixth consecutive US Open crown Photograph: Shaun Best/Reuters

The New York skyline could be seen behind the Arthur Ashe Stadium, where the final was held Photograph: Kathy Willens/AP

Del Potro was overawed in the first set and lost 6-3 Photograph: Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images

The younger player seemed to be heading for the same fate as Andy Murray, whom Federer dispatched in last year's final Photograph: Shaun Best/Reuters

But the underdog rallied midway through the second set and went on to win it on a tie-break Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Federer, hoping for a 16th grand slam win, regained the initiative in the third set, taking a 6-3, 6-7, 6-4 lead overall, after Del Potro served two double faults in a row in the 10th game Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

This was Federer's fourth major final of the year, having lost the Australian Open but triumphed in the French and at Wimbledon. Given that Federer had never lost to Del Potro in six previous meetings, the odds were stacked in his favour Photograph: Matthew Stockman/Getty Images

Both players saw fit to berate the umpire during the contest Photograph: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images

The sun set behind Flushing Meadows as the game entered a turbulent fourth set. Federer was just two points from winning the title, but his opponent clung on to force another tie-break Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

It made anxious viewing for Del Potro's fans at the club where he used to play in his home town of Tandil, Argentina. Their man won the tie-break to force a deciding set Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters

Federer had never lost a major final to anyone other than Rafael Nadal ... but he lost the first two games of the fifth set to put himself in a perilous position Photograph: Julian Finney/Getty Images

Del Potro then surged to victory (3-6, 7-6, 6-4, 7-6, 6-2), completing the match in just over four hours Photograph: Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images

Del Potro could scarcely believe that he had won the title or that he had ended Federer's 40-match winning streak at the US Open Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

The champion lifts his trophy Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

He later turned to Federer and said: "I had two dreams this week. One was to win the US Open and the other one is to be like Roger. One is done, but I need to improve a lot to be like you" Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty Images