MILLMAN RUN DELIVERS MONSTER PAYDAY
THE one other time John Millman played Roger Federer, he left the experience feeling disappointed, even if he was just about the only one who felt that way.
Millman will have his biggest tennis payday, a guaranteed $A370,000, even if he loses his US Open fourth-round match against Federer tomorrow morning (AEST).
The Brisbane righthander was ranked No.156 at the 2015 Brisbane International when he led Federer by a set and 3-1, with a point on his serve to move to 4-1, before losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
“I was very disappointed and upset with that result, but not discouraged,’’ Millman said in January.
“If I can stay injury-free, I know that I can compete at a very high level.’’
Millman vowed after his gritty 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 triumph over Mikhail Kukushkin yesterday that he would not be daunted by the reputation of the 20-time grand slam winner when likely playing a first match on Arthur Ashe Stadium, the biggest in world tennis.
Millman, 29, will have a career-best ranking after the US Open, moving to at least No.42 on the basis of his longest run at a grand slam event, seven spots better than his best, achieved last month.