Battler Millman now has Federer in sight

AUSTRALIAN tennis battler John Millman will play for a $340,000 jackpot and likely prime-time shot at Roger Federer after continuing his blazing US Open run.

Australia’s last man standing backed up his upset defeat of Nick Kyrgios with a 6-1, 7-6, (7-1), 6-1 dismissal of Tunisia’s Malek Jaziri to make the last 32 in New York for the first time.

Victory has presented Millman with the opportunity of a lifetime as he continues his latest comeback from career-saving surgery.

Only unseeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber stands in the way of the 28-year-old and a place in the second week of a major.

“I’d rather play him than Rafa,” Millman said before trying to cash in on an 11th-hour pretournament draw reshuffle.

The late withdrawal of world No. 2 Andy Murray forced officials to rejig the bottom half of the draw, with Kohlschreiber taking the spot of 17th-seeded Wimbledon semi-finalist Sam Querrey.

Millman knows having hit with Querrey at the All England Club and also watching the American storm through his first two rounds that the tennis gods have smiled on him.

Millman has already guaranteed himself a cheque for $180,000, doubling his season’s earnings.

Beating Kohlschreiber would earn him a centre-court crack at Federer, if the 19-times grand slam champion can back up from his successive five-setters and see off Feliciano Lopez.

Contesting the Open on an injury-protected ranking after adding a groin operation to two shoulder reconstructions, Millman arrived as the No. 235 in the world. He is now projected to soar at least 60 spots in the standings as he bids to become the lowestranked player since 1985 to make the last 16 in New York.