MILLMAN TAKES UP FED FIGHT
TENNIS: Australian battler John Millman has struck grand slam gold, booking a dream US Open date with Roger Federer and banking a cheque for $370,000 to boot.
“I will definitely go to the prizemoney desk and collect my cheque. That’s for sure,” Millman said after his life-changing 6-4 4-6 6-1 6-3 third-round triumph over Mikhail Kukushkin at Flushing Meadows.
But Millman doesn’t play for the money.
The 29-year-old plays for love and now he’s reaping the rewards.
In addition to his first-time appearance in a grand slam second week, Millman will also crack the world’s top 50 for the first time and earn a coveted place on Lleyton Hewitt’s Davis Cup team for Australia’s historic tie against Austria this month.
“If I had played tennis for the money, I would have quit a long, long time ago because I have come from the scraps just about on the tour,” he said. “For me, it was more about being able to create that opportunity to put myself in a position where I am playing second week of a grand slam. That is very special.”
Federer denied Nick Kyrgios an all-Australian showdown with Millman with a 6-4 6-1 7-5 dispatch of the Canberran in a vintage display.
Kyrgios confessed to having accomplished nothing in his turbulent tennis career after being handed a grand slam reality check at Flushing Meadows.
“I have been around for about four years now. I have barely done anything,” he said after his lesson from Federer.
“I think I can do a lot more. It’s all mental with me, I think,” Kyrgios added. “If I want it enough, I have a coaching option, psychology option. “There is a lot more things to explore.
“But, I mean, obviously I want to achieve more in the sport. I don’t think I have done anything.”