© Getty ImagesJuan Martin del Potro was given a hero's welcome in his native Tandil after winning the US Open.

World No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro has been named Argentinean Sportsperson of the Year, rewarding the Tandil native’s outstanding season on the ATP World Tour.

"Ending 2009 in this way is very nice,” said del Potro. "It gives me a lot of desire and excitement to face the coming year in the best way possible.”

The 21-year-old del Potro won his first Grand Slam title at the US Open, defeating Roger Federer in an epic finale, and qualified for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London, where he finished runner-up to Nikolay Davydenko.

DEUCE: del Potro's Perfect Moment

The right-hander also won ATP World Tour titles at the Heineken Open (d. Querrey) in Auckland and the Legg Mason Tennis Classic (d. Roddick) in Washington and was a semi-finalist at Roland Garros (l. to Federer) as he secured a Top 5 finish in the year-end South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings.

In winning the Olimpia de Oro award, del Potro held off stiff competition from the likes of FIFA World Player of the Year Lionel Messi, star of FC Barcelona’s Champions League winning side.