An emotional Juan Martin del Potro made his long-awaited return to his hometown of Tandil, where he was welcomed with fanfare by thousands of his countrymen Thursday afternoon.

"I owe this to Tandil," the newly crowned US Open champion said upon addressing the crowd at Independence Square. "Hopefully we can enjoy all this. This city would not change any of the world and my heart is always here."

With an Argentine flag draped across his back, the 20 year old climbed on top of a fire truck and began his procession through the Tandil streets, passing through the city center, by the Club Independente where he once trained, and ending at City Hall, where he was named a Distinguished Citizen by mayor Miguel Lunghi.

As del Potro acknowledged his followers – many waving flags adorned with his image – and accepted gifts along the parade route, he was overcome with emotion and wept for long moments.

After receiving the keys to the city, del Potro showed his appreciation for the organisers of the event and the crowd. "This reception has the same value or more of winning a tennis tournament," he said. "I have no words, just thanks to everybody."

He also credited the people in Tandil for carrying him through the final in New York. "Thanks to you and the support I received, when I entered the court and to the last ball I was thinking that you helped me and you would be happy just like me... Hopefully this is the start of something big for me. Any sporting achievement I am going to devote to my city."

His homecoming tour had begun Wednesday, with fans and media greeting him on his arrival at the Ezeiza international airport, and continued with a news conference in Buenos Aires, where he received a plaque from the Argentine Tennis Association for his Grand Slam triumph.

Del Potro, who had expressed his desire Wednesday "to see my family, my friends and start to enjoy this", began his 350 kilometer trip from Buenos Aires to Tandil on Thursday at noon.

Earlier in the morning, del Potro had received a congratulatory phone call from the President of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, who said he had "brought a lot of happiness to the Argentines”.

His stunning victory over Roger Federer has been a boon to tourism in the small town of Tandil, which has been filled to capacity since Tuesday with visitors from neighbouring towns in addition to international journalists.

"This triumph of a Tandil son caused an impressive thing. The hotel occupancy is full and is very positive for retailers," said the owner of the Tourism Office of Tandil, Ernesto Palacios, who added that people, "now not only know us by the famous salami".