Roger Federer was the five-time defending champion, but was defeated by Juan Martín del Potro in the final, 3–6, 7–6(7–5), 4–6, 7–6(7–4), 6–2. This was del Potro's first major title. Federer was trying to win his sixth consecutive US Open title since Bill Tilden in 1925 during the Pre-Open era. He was also vying the first man to win Grand Slams in clay, grass and hard court on the same calendar year after he won the French Open and Wimbledon earlier that year and also could become the first player trying to win French Open, Wimbledon and US Open in the same calendar year since Rod Laver in 1969. He was on a 41-match winning streak at Flushing Meadows prior to defeat to del Potro. It also was the only major not won by the Big Four between the 2005 Australian Open and the 2014 Australian Ope