Del Potro defeats Thiem in 5-set thriller to reach US Open quarters

New York, Sept. 4 (Xinhua) -- Juan Martin del Potro saved two match points to outlast Dominic Thiem in a five-set thriller and reach the US Open quarterfinals on Monday.

The 28-year-old Argentine 24th seed rallied past Austrian sixth seed Thiem 1-6, 2-6, 6-1, 7-6(1), 6-4 in an emotional fightback, which is only his second career victory after falling two sets down.

"Oh my God," Del Potro told the crowd after the match on the court. "I was sick for the last two days. I came here trying to play the best I can and then when I see this crowd cheering for me, I was trying to play better every game."

"I think I fight like this because of you guys so thank you very much."

Del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion, will next face 19-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, the Swiss third seed, who got past German 33rd seed Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Del Potro defeated Federer in a five-set final eight years ago here for his only Grand Slam title, after dispatching Rafael Nadal in the semifinals.