Juan Martin del Potro has agreed he deserves to rank among the favourites to win the US Open after rallying to beat John Isner in the final of the Washington Open.
The 24-year-old top seed from Argentina shook off a sluggish start to beat the American eighth seed 3-6 6-1 6-2 on Sunday for his third title in six years at the $US1.76 million tournament, a tune up for the year's final Grand Slam beginning in New York in three weeks.
"I would have to be a favourite," said del Potro, the 2011 US Open champion. "I'm playing well. To win tournaments and beat these guys, you have to be fit and in good condition.
"But I have a few more guys playing better than me, and they have been favourites forever."
World No.1 Novak Djokovic, defending champion Andy Murray, five-time US Open winner Roger Federer and 2010 US Open champion Rafael Nadal were del Potro's picks as the players to beat at Flushing Meadows.
"I would put him the smallest hair behind Djokovic and Murray," Isner said of del Potro. "It would just be those guys right now. He would be third favorite."
In his first event since an epic five-set loss to Djokovic in the longest semi-final in Wimbledon history, del Potro showed his left knee was fine after an injury at Wimbledon.
"Honestly, I'm surprised to win this tournament after a month without competition," del Potro said. "To win my first tournament on hardcourt, it means a lot. It gives me confidence to keep going and get closer to the top guys."
Del Potro stretched his Washington win streak to 14 matches by adding to the titles he won in the US capital in 2008 and 2009. The last time he won in Washington he went on to win the US Open, the only Grand Slam title since the 2005 Australian Open not taken by Federer, Nadal, Djokovic or Murray.
"I'm so glad to win again here," del Potro said. "It felt unbelievable."
Seventh-ranked del Potro won his 15th career ATP title, his second of the year after Rotterdam in February, and improved to 4-0 all-time against Isner, the ATP season aces leader, despite not getting to sleep until 3 am after a rain-interrupted semi-final.
Isner, ranked 20th, missed out on his third crown of the year after title runs last week in Atlanta and in April at Houston.
"I was worn out out there," Isner said. "I have played a lot and it did ultimately take its toll on me, but even if I was fresh, I don't know if I could have taken that match.
"He was too good."
Slovakian seventh seed Magdalena Rybarikova won her second Washington title in a row, beating German Andrea Petkovic 6-4 7-6 (7-2) in the women's final, for her fourth career WTA crown and her first of the year.
