Seed is planted for rise of John
UNBOWED if vanquished in his first grand slam quarterfinal, John Millman has made a better life for himself and has the cash to pay off his new apartment if he wants.
The Queenslander paid for a handful of loose points with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 loss to the indomitable Novak Djokovic in their draining US Open showdown yesterday.
But he will leap 18 places to No.37 when the next rankings list is released on Monday.
He has to defend 177 of his 963 rankings before the end of the year because of his results in three Asian Challenger tournaments, including one title, after he returned from groin surgery in August 2017.
If he can maintain his ranking, or improve it as he reckons he can, Brisbane’s Federerbuster will be a direct entry for the first time to ATP Masters Series tournaments, which offer purses smaller than only the four grand slam events, later this year and hopefully into 2019.
Millman will also be a direct entry for the first time at January’s Brisbane International.
“I’d love to be seeded (as a top-32 player) at one of these tournaments, like the Australian Open – that’s the next milestone,” Millman said.
“I’ve had a taste of it and I’d love to have a bit more of a feed. I can match it with these guys.’’
With his $662,000 US Open cheque, the 12-year Challenger circuit player would have enough to pay off the $552,000 apartment he bought this year in Clayfield, in Brisbane’s inner-north, although he insists heightened renown will not change him.
“In a day or two’s time I’ll be yesterday’s news – there’s a lot of things more important than hitting a tennis ball,” Millman said philosophically.
“I’ll still play trivia at the bowls club on Wednesdays (in Brisbane).’’
The threat of a letdown from his memorable win over Roger Federer two nights earlier was averted as Millman dragged Djokovic into long, searching rallies.
Four-time US Open champion John McEnroe said the Queenslander’s level of play was “similar’’ to the standard of his fourth-round win.