Juan Martin del Potro took down the five-time defending champion Roger Federer to capture the US Open title this week.

The Argentine player kept the pressure on the player many hail as the greatest in tennis history, one he had never beaten in six prior attempts, to complete a dramatic 3-6 7-6 (7-5) 4-6 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 upset after four hours and six minutes.

“A dream came true,” said a tearful Del Potro. “I don’t have words to explain how I feel.”

No. 1 Roger Federer has won his 38th straight match at the U.S. Open, moving into the quarterfinals with a victory over No. 14 Tommy Robredo.

Federer, in search of his sixth straight title at Flushing Meadows, split the first 10 games against his Spanish opponent Monday, then won 14 of the next 18 for a 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 victory. He was off the court in 1 hour, 48 minutes.

His next match will come against No. 12 Robin Soderling, whom he beat in straight sets earlier this year in the French Open final to complete his career Grand Slam.

With his latest performance at the 2009 French Open, Roger Federer tied Pete Sampras’ record of 14 major singles titles and became the sixth man to complete a career Grand Slam. Federer was at his best, completely outplaying No. 23-seeded Robin Soderling of Sweden en route to a 6-1, 7-6 (1), 6-4 victory in the French Open final.

“Maybe my greatest victory _ or certainly the one that takes the most pressure off my shoulders,” Federer said in French, moments after dropping to his knees, caking them with clay, as his 127 mph service winner ended the match. “I think that now, and until the end of my career, I can really play with my mind at peace and no longer hear that I’ve never won at Roland Garros.”

Rafael Nadal, the four-time defending champion lost to Robin Soderling of Sweden 6-2, 6-7 (2), 6-4, 7-6 (2) in the fourth round Sunday, ending his record 31-match winning streak at Roland Garros.

“When one player plays bad, [he] must lose,” Nadal said. “[It] was my fault. … I didn’t play my best tennis and for that reason I lose.”

Soderling, who was seeded 23rd at this year’s tournament, ran Nadal off his feet on center court with a hard serve and amazing forehand. “I played well today, but I think I played some even better matches in my career,” said the 24-year-old Soderling, who called Nadal “the greatest clay-court player of all time.”

Rafael Nadal will become No. 1 in the rankings Monday, and now he’s is numero uno at the Olympics.
Nadal won a gold medal Sunday, overcoming two set points in the second set and holding every service game to beat Fernando Gonzalez of Chile 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-3. Nadal’s gold medal was the first ever for Spain in Olympic tennis. Nadal was already assured of taking over the No. 1 ranking Monday for the first time, ending Roger Federer’s reign after almost 5 years. Nadal has won 38 of his past 39 matches.

Elena Dementieva took the gold in women’s singles, taking advantage of 17 double-faults by another Russian, Dinara Safina to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

In women’s doubles, Venus and Serena Williams won the glory and the gold, taking down Anabel Medina Garrigues and Virginia Ruano Pascual of Spain 6-2, 6-0.

Rafael Nadal held off Roger Federer to win his first Wimbledon title and end the Swiss star’s reign at the All England Club. Nadal missed two championship points in the fourth set but recovered to win a dramatic rain-interrupted match 6-4 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-7 (8-10) 9-7.

Nadal, 22, is the first man since Bjorn Borg in 1980 to win the French Open and Wimbledon titles back-to-back. Thought of as tennis’s version of a world heavyweight title fight - it lived up to the hype, Nadal finally won the longest Wimbledon men’s singles final after four hours, 48 minutes.

After his victory, a tearful Nadal climbed through the stands to celebrate his win with his family and supporters before heading to the royal box to speak to members of Spain’s royal family.

The Milwaukee Bucks have agreed to trade Yi Jianlian to the New Jersey Nets for Richard Jefferson. They are also are sending Bobby Simmons to the Nets. He has $20.5 million left on a contract that expires in the summer of 2010, when LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh would become free agents.

This trade might be considered a sign that the Nets are looking to get involved in the LeBron sweepstakes, based in no small part on his close friendship with Nets minority owner Jay-Z. As a result of this trade, the Nets are no longer committed to paying Jefferson $15 million in 2010-11.

Yi’s camp was said to be thrilled about going to the re-structuring Nets and playing in a major market, which was one of the original concerns when he was drafted by the Bucks last year. Yi threatened to not sign with Milwaukee in hopes of forcing a trade to another team. The Bucks will keep their No. 8 pick in the draft to further spruce up their team. The Nets hold the No. 10 pick.

The Bucks, meanwhile, are providing new coach Scott Skiles with a veteran player who can help him win. Jefferson averaged 22.6 points a game last season.

Rafael Nadal secured his status as The King of Clay yesterday when he took a fourth straight French Open title. Nadal pretty much destroyed world number one seed Roger Federer in three straight sets - 6-1, 6-3, 6-0. Nadal, who hails from Spain, who has never lost a match at Roland Garros, didn’t lost a single set in this year’s competition.

Tennis season will heat up now as the road to Wimbledon begins today with the Artois Championships getting underway at the Queens Club in London.

Big Brown made history to win the 134th Kentucky Derby on Saturday, but the race finished under a dark cloud as runner-up Eight Belles broke down on the track. Eight Belles, trained by Larry Jones and ridden by 20-year-old Gabriel Saez, was trying to become just the fourth filly to win the Derby. Minutes after the race the filly fell to the ground and Saez jumped off. She was found to have broken both front ankles and was humanely destroyed on the track. With the memory of Barbaro still fresh, Eight Belles’ devastating breakdown Saturday put increasing focus on a sport already suffering a decline in popularity.
Her death has raised major issues about the industry, including whether fillies should be allowed to run with males.
In 2006, Derby winner Barbaro shattered his fight rear leg at the start of the Preakness, as thousands of people watched in horror. Barbaro was euthanized eight months later.

Roger Federer has won twelve Grand Slam singles titles (three Australian Open, five Wimbledon, four US Open), four Tennis Masters Cup titles, and fourteen ATP Masters Series titles.