Millman storms back to victory

TENACIOUS John Millman has produced a great escape to deliver Australia a 2-0 lead over Brazil in their Davis Cup tie.

Millman was staring at defeat when Brazil’s young gun Thiago Seyboth Wild served for a straight-sets victory at Adelaide’s Memorial Drive yesterday.

But the Australian courageously conjured a break, then romped through the tiebreak without conceding a point en route to a stirring 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2 triumph.

Millman’s compatriot Jordan Thompson earlier accounted for Thiago Monteiro 6-4, 6-4. Australia now has one proverbial foot in the cup finals in Spain ahead of today’s doubles and reverse singles.

Millman summoned his renowned fighting qualities against the powerful Seyboth Wild, a precocious 19year-old who won his first ATP title at last week’s Chile

Open. “It’s super special, one of my most memorable [wins], no doubt,” Millman said.

Seyboth Wild streeted to a 5-1 lead in the first set with a series of forceful ground strokes. But, with the score at 5-2, play was halted as a spectator was treated for a medical emergency.

After the resumption Millman won consecutive games before the imposing Brazilian, whose world ranking of 113 is destined to rise, served out the set.

In the second stanza, Seyboth Wild broke Millman’s serve in the fifth game and, at 5-4, served for the match. The Brazilian saved two break points before Millman converted a third to level at 5-5.

“I was in a bit of trouble, that’s for sure,” Millman said. “I had to dig deep.”

The Australian world No.43 broke Seyboth Wild’s serve in the fifth game, and again two games later, to coolly close out victory.