More on John Millman:
Thanks for reading along. We’ll be back tomorrow evening when Serena Williams takes on 2016 Open finalist Karolina Pliskova in a blockbuster quarterfinal.
This one took us into the wee hours here in New York, so I’ll be signing off now. In the meantime, a look at the stats from John Millman’s remarkable, four-set upset over Roger Federer. The Aussie hit 8 aces to only one double fault, plus a +22 winners-to-errors ratio. Federer, looking nothing like the player who made quick work of Nick Kyrgios on Saturday, hit 10 double faults and 77 unforced errors. And here’s your match report:
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“I’m probably in a little bit of disbelief,” says Millman, a gracious winner, in the on-court interview with Brad Gilbert. “He’s been a hero of mine and today he was definitely not at his best. But I’ll take it.”
Millman keeps Australia’s hopes alive for the nation’s first men’s Grand Slam winner since Lleyton Hewitt won Wimbledon in 2002. Sam Stosur, of course, won this very tournament in 2011. After tonight’s extraordinary showing, you’ve got to think Millman’s got a shot against Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
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John Millman upsets Roger Federer 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3)!
What a performance from the Australian John Millman, notching the biggest win of his life against 5-time US Open champion Roger Federer. He played stupendous tennis and held his nerve in two high-octane tiebreaks, but reacts to the win a tempered fist-pump. A big disappointment for Federer, who breezed through the opening set only to see his strokes, and, more crucially, his serve, go astray thereafter.
After back-to-back Federer double faults, Millman gets the double mini-break and a 4-1 lead in the fourth set tiebreak. He’s three points away from the biggest win of his career on the biggest stage in tennis.
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Fourth set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 6-6 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman holds at 30 and to a barnburner of a 4th set tiebreak we go. Fasten your seatbelts.
Fourth set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 6-5 Millman (*denotes server): He got behind 0-30 in that game, but Federer draws a few Millman return errors to secure the hold. Like in the third, t’s been tit-for-tat so far in this set. Millman will serve to force another tiebreak.
Fourth set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 5-5 Millman* (*denotes server): A couple of massive Millman forehands gets the Aussie another hold, and we could be headed for another breaker.
Fourth set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 5-4 Millman (*denotes server): And Fed follows that disastrous last service game with a love hold that took less than a minute. Total points won: 146 for Millman, 145 for Federer. More parity: the two are each locked at 10/11 odds for those gambling men and women out there.
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Fourth set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 4-4 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman holds and you’ve got to think that missed overhead at 4-2, 40-30 is heavy on Federer’s mind. On the other side of the court, the Aussie, in his first-ever Grand Slam fourth round (!), looks as light and unperturbed as ever.
Fourth set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 4-3 Millman (*denotes server): At game point, Federer stones a sitting volley and looks distinctly unFederer-esque while doing so. Then a forehand flies long off his racquet on break point. He’d be wise to stop coming in toward Millman’s backhand, which has been a thing of beauty.
Fourth set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 4-2 Millman* (*denotes server): Federer gets the break! With Severin Luthi and Ivan Ljubicic on their feet in the player’s box, RF gets animated for the first time all match as he looks to push this to five. Millman blinked in that game, missing a few first serves and netting backhands.
Fourth set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 3-2 Millman (*denotes server): Roger, a career 40-0 against non-top 50 players at the US Open, holds for 3-2.
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Fourth set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 2-2 Millman* (*denotes server): The exchange of service holds continues; that’s eight straight for Federer, 10 straight for Millman, and we’ve reached the three-hour mark.
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Fourth set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 2-1 Millman (*denotes server): Fed’s game has looked anything but pretty, but he holds for an eighth straight game. 59 errors so far for the five-time champion, compared to just 23 for Millman.
Fourth set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 1-1 Millman* (*denotes server): The Aussie follows it up with an easy service hold of his own. He’s showing no signs of shrinking in the moment, only the biggest one of his career.
Fourth set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 6-7 (7), 1-0 Millman (*denotes server): Federer, coming to the net on almost every point now (behind forehands, backhands, drop-shots, you-name-it), holds to open the fourth set.
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This Federer fan is getting lots of airtime.
(🎥Eurosport) pic.twitter.com/nkv41JDRys
— doublefault28 (@doublefault28) September 4, 2018
John Millman wins the third set 7-6 (7) over Roger Federer!
You couldn’t have guessed it two hours ago, but John Millman has roared back to take a two sets to one lead over Roger Federer after a thoroughly entertaining, tension-filled tiebreak that brought the crowd in Ashe to its feet. He’s playing the match of his life, blasting forehands left and right. Federer raised his level that set after a disastrous end to the second, but the Australian didn’t hasn’t let up one bit. Win or lose, he’s gained plenty of fans with this showing tonight. As it stands, it looks like he might pull this off and prevent a blockbuster Federer-Djokovic quarterfinal.
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Third set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 6-6 Millman (*denotes server): After almost two-and-a-half hours of play, we are headed to a tiebreak in set three! These two have been clinically exchanging holds so far this set, save a few stumbles on Federer’s end. Millman, though, has lost just six points on serve in set three. But now something’s gotta give. Their 2018 tiebreak records: 16-6 for Fed, 6-10 for Millman.
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Third set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 5-6 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman holds to pull within a game of the third set. It was at this juncture in set two that he broke Federer. Can he do it again to take a two-set lead? He’s held his nerve amazingly well so far in what’s easily the biggest match of his career, under the lights, in New York, against the GOAT.
Third set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 4-5 Millman* (*denotes server): It’s the Aussie who’s now holding serve with ease. Fed sprays a backhand return wayyyy long to give Millman a 5-4 lead.
Third set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 4-4 Millman (*denotes server): Federer, absolutely drenched in sweat on a humid night in Queens, holds for 4-4. He’s upped his first-serve percentage from 31% in set two to 55 and is serving-and-volleying regularly now as he tries to keep points short against the Aussie, who is tracking down everything and sending the balls back with force. It’s crunch time now.
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Third set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 3-4 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman holds again at love. Some of his most impressive statistics so far: 29 winners, 21 unforced errors, winning a solid 57% of his second-serve points, and he’s overtaken Federer with 99 points won to the Swiss’ 98.
Third set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 2-3 Millman* (*denotes server): A fired up Millman hits a laser of a backhand passing shot to go up 3-2, keeping Federer on his heels. Unlike a lot of players who manage to take a set off one of the big three, he doesn’t seem to be going anywhere.
Third set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 2-2 Millman (*denotes server): Federer holds at 15 and seems to be recovering from last set’s unforeseen bout of service woes. He’s gotten his first-serve percentage up a few notches but will now have to find a way to break Millman, who’s been playing extraordinarily well for the last hour.
Behold, the multitalented John Millman:
John Millman won the second set 7-5 over Roger Federer. #usopen
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) September 4, 2018
He can also do things with his tongue.pic.twitter.com/3k1fzOCAdV
Third set: Federer* 6-3, 5-7, 1-1 Millman (*denotes server): Federer, played by shanked forehands and missed first serves, holds his serve nonetheless.
Third set: Federer 6-3, 5-7, 0-1 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman holds serve to gets things underway in the third set. If he can maintain his level while Fed doesn’t up his, this could well be the upset of the tournament.
John Millman wins the second set 7-5 over Roger Federer!
Boy, what a turn of events in this one. After leading by a set and 5-3, Roger Federer lets John Millman back into this one, losing four straight games and, with them, the second set. RF hit 22 errors in that set alone and has seven double faults on the match; more concerning, he’s making only 36% of his first serves. Millman, meanwhile, converts on each of his last two break chances after squashing his first eight. His speed, consistency, and depth are eliciting lots of mistakes from Fed, who looks rattled and sweatier than usual.
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Second set: Federer 6-3, 5-6* Millman (*denotes server): The Aussie with his third straight game and his first lead in the second set. He’s playing inspired tennis just as Federer gets sloppy. The Swiss will serve to force a tiebreak.
Second set: Federer* 6-3, 5-5 Millman (*denotes server): Wow. John Millman saves two set points and gets the break back to even things up at 5-5. Federer misses a forehand and an easy volley at 40-15 and 40-30 and then hits his sixth double fault on break point.
Second set: Federer 6-3, 5-4 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman, competing valiantly and admirably, holds again. Federer will serve now for a two-set lead.
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Second set: Federer* 6-3, 5-3 Millman (*denotes server): Millman opens the game with an impressive running pass, staring intently at his box with a raised fist. But it’s not enough to get the break. Federer moves within one game of a two-set lead.
Second set: Federer 6-3, 4-3 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman holds his serve in a must-win game, but he’ll have to break Federer at some points. So far, he’s 0/8 on BPs.
Second set: Federer* 6-3, 4-2 Millman (*denotes server): Federer consolidates the break and is in pole position. But big ups to Millman, who’s playing a clean match (16 winners, 16 UFE) and holding steady with the maestro from the baseline. It’s when Roger changes pace and draws Millman in, or comes in himself, that the Aussie is having trouble.
John Millman, like his good friend Andy Murray, is pretty adept at social media. At Wimbledon this year Millman updated fans on the travails of his father, known as “the Fox.”
So my old man arrived in time to watch me at this years Wimbledon. He also calls himself the 🦊... pic.twitter.com/RnGCMzKj8i
— John Millman (@johnhmillman) June 29, 2018
Second set: Federer* 6-3, 2-2 Millman (*denotes server): RF holds at love, making each of his first serves after making just six of 24 in his last service game.
Second set: Federer 6-3, 1-2 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman with his fifth straight hold to take a 2-1 lead. After a lopsided first set, he’s starting to get dialed in: strangely, given how things started, he has 47 points to Federer’s 50.
Second set: Federer 6-3, 1-1 Millman* (*denotes server): That was a grueling 14-minute service game for Fed, who nevertheless saves six break points to hold. Not helping his cause are the four double faults he’s racked up so far, an unusually high total for an entire Federer match, let alone through six service games. Millman’s playing the Swiss tough in rallies but will be kicking himself over all those missed opportunities.
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A few other notable attendees tonight: two of three Jonas Brothers and Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, who says Federer reminds him of Steph Curry because of how “comfortable they are in their skin.” Kerr, pressed by Brad Gilbert to give his all-time men’s tennis starting five, picks an unimpeachable quintet: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Pete Sampras, and Rod Laver (he may, however, get an earful from Bjorn Borg fans).
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Second set: Federer 6-3, 0-1 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman is on the board first in set two, holding comfortably. Let’s see if he finds a way to keep pace with RF now.
Roger Federer wins the first set 6-3 against John Millman!
A relatively clean but certainly imposing start for the number two seed, who only needed that one early break to seal the deal. Millman, who reminds me a bit of roadrunner Nikolay Davydenko, is playing well but is simply outmatched by RF’s seemingly bottomless array of shots. He’ll need to make inroads on the Swiss’ serve to have a shot at taking a set, let alone winning three.
First set: Federer* 5-2 Millman (*denotes server): Fed holds again. He’s lost just one point off his first serve so far tonight after losing just seven in his entire match against Kyrgios. Millman will be happy to put this set behind him and refuel for set two.
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First set: Federer 4-2 Millman* (*denotes server): Millman holds after a running forehand passing shot just clips the outside line.
First set: Federer* 4-1 Millman (*denotes server): Federer holds again with a few strong serves, but Millman had a 15-30 lead in that one. It looks like the 55th-ranked Millman is starting to shake off those Arthur Ashe primetime nerves, which have plagued many a Federer opponent.
First set: Federer 3-1 Millman* (*denotes server): The Aussie is on the board after saving another break point. In other news, Bill Clinton is in the house tonight, looking aghast, like the rest of us, at Federer’s shotmaking. Reliable RF acolyte Anna Wintour is there, too.
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First set: Federer* 3-0 Millman (*denotes server): This looks like a clinic for the Swiss so far. A drop-shot winner is followed by an acrobatic volley winner is followed by a serve-and-volley. He’s eight years his opponent’s senior but is looking far nimbler so far.
First set: Federer 2-0 Millman* (*denotes server): Welp, Roger breaks at love to give himself a nice cushion in the opening set. He is flying around the court, mixing up the pace, and causing Millman plenty of problems already.
First set: Federer* 1-0 Millman (*denotes server): Federer saves an early break point with a beautiful serve out wide on the ad side, closing out the game with a forehand winner DTL. A bit of a shaky start on a balmy evening in Queens.
The 29-year-old Millman, playing his first match on Ashe, was reverential but ready when asked about the challenge of playing Federer. “He’s got an aura about him,” he said. “Definitely a player I’ve looked up to throughout my career. But it’s like anything. I have never been a fan of playing anyone’s reputation.”
“Any opportunity to hit with the great man, I would take. I would pick up balls for him back then,” added Millman, who beat Jenson Brooksby, Fabio Fognini, and Mikhail Kukushkin to set up tonight’s match.
Fed and Millman practiced together in Switzerland over the summer and at this year’s Aussie Open. “He’s just come to Switzerland to train with me before the grass-court season so we know each other quite well, a super friendly guy, and I’m very happy for him that he’s gotten so far,” said Fed.
The two are warming up now and we’ll be underway any minute.
His appearance in the Open fourth round marks Aussie John Millman’s best-ever showing at a Slam after reaching the third round in Oz and London in 2016. At this tournament last year he took out countryman Nick Kyrgios in the first round, but his opponent tonight will be a whole different animal. Federer, of course, easily dispatched Kyrgios in the last round, playing what was perhaps his best match of the summer (while pulling off the undisputed shot of the tournament).
Roger Federer with one of the shots of this or any other year. Just preposterous pic.twitter.com/x1svw8ubFY
— Oliver Brown (@oliverbrown_tel) September 1, 2018
On her 30th birthday, Carla Suarez Navarro takes down Maria Sharapova in straight sets to hand the Russian her first ever loss in a night match on Arthur Ashe Stadium. Maria was constantly off-balance and spraying errors left and right, but props to CSN for holding her nerve and gutting out an impressive win with implacable defense and that beautiful one-hander. The crowd wishes her a happy birthday as they wait for match two: Roger Federer vs. John Millman.
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Maria Sharapova has just finished her match on Arthur Ashe - and her tournament. She was beaten in straight sets by Carla Suárez Navarro, 6-4, 6-3. That means Roger Federer and John Millman will be with us shortly. Can the Aussie pull off the shock of the tournament? We shall see soon...
Jake will be here shortly, in the meantime here’s how Roger Federer got along in the third-round, against another Aussie:
Roger Federer did to Nick Kyrgios here on Saturday what his friends should have done a while ago: reminded the untamed prodigy he will never be as great as he thinks he is until he starts to listen to some of the advice that comes his way on an almost hourly basis. It can’t all be wrong.
The match that should have driven the first week of the US Open to a glorious intermission began like a brass band, fell briefly into improv chaos, then finished in an almost conventional rhythm. It took Federer an hour and 44 minutes – only 10 matches this week finished more quickly – to win 6-4, 6-1, 7-5 on a mild afternoon on Arthur Ashe Stadium, when patrons probably wanted a long and bloody confrontation between their hero and the self-styled villain of the sport.
You can read the full report below:
