Flushing Meadows darling Del Potro thanks crowd for epic win

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Juan Martin Del Potro produced a stunning comeback to reach the U.S. Open quarter-finals on Monday, a feat he believes was impossible without the backing of a partisan crowd.

The Argentine, who lifted the trophy in New York in 2009, has been a Flushing Meadows favorite and needed all the support he could get against Austrian sixth seed Dominic Thiem.

&ldquo-I&lsquo-m getting good energy from the crowd in every match,&rdquo- he had said before his 1-6 2-6 6-1 7-6(1) 6-4 win on Grandstand court.

The 24th-seed, whose career has been plagued by multiple injuries, said he was about to retire when he drew some energy from the crowd as Thiem was cruising to victory.

&ldquo-I was thinking to retire in the middle of the second set because I couldn&rsquo-t breathe, I couldn&rsquo-t move well,&rdquo- said Del Potro, who called the doctor twice during the opening set.

&ldquo-Dominic was dominating the match so easy.&rdquo-

Del Potro started to play better, and a break early in the third set gave him the extra confidence he needed to believe in his chances.

&ldquo-Then when we started the third set, I broke his serve very quickly, and then I won the set in 20 minutes,&rdquo- he recalled.

&ldquo-Then it was another story. I started to see the crowd. I took all the energy from the fans. That&rsquo-s what I did and in the end, I just kept fighting. I didn&rsquo-t give up any point from the third until the fifth set.&rdquo-

Del Potro benefited from some Thiem meltdown to take the fourth set in a tiebreak after saving a couple of match points with two aces.

But it was also his flat forehand, one of the best on the tour, that made the difference.

&ldquo-I know people like when I hit hard with my forehands. People stand up from their chair when I hit good winners,&rdquo- said Del Potro.

&ldquo-I like to do that. But it doesn&rsquo-t happen very often. When I feel that confidence to do my best shots, I know I can be dangerous for all the guys.&rdquo-

Next up for Del Potro is Swiss Roger Federer, whom he beat in the final here in 2009.