Dejected Millman to pick back up again

QUEENSLANDER John Millman will dust himself off and “go again’’ in Sydney next week after absorbing the disappointment of another near miss at the Brisbane International.

Millman said yesterday that his main emotions were “disappointment and a feeling of deja vu’’ from his 4-6, 7-6 (10-8), 6-3 loss to world No.3 Grigor Dimitrov after having held two match points in the second set.

The Brisbane right-hander also took sets at Pat Rafter Arena off both Andy Murray in 2013 and Roger Federer in 2015.

But Millman, the fourthranked Australian, was prepared a few hours later to play Sydney qualifying, starting this afternoon, but should have earnt himself the third and last of Tennis Australia’s wildcards for the tournament’s main draw.

“I will look to fly to Sydney and I’m ready to pick myself up and go again,’’ he said.

“The body feels good and the game feels good.

“I feel like I’m playing good enough tennis to go deep into ATP-250 tournaments like Brisbane and Sydney. It’s just tough when you come up against the top seed (Dimitrov) and I would love to win one of those really big ones.

“If I can stay injury-free, I know that I can compete at a very high level. I probably said it in 2013, and said it probably in 2015, and now I’m saying it again in 2018.’’

Millman’s choice of words echoes his support of England’s Liverpool football club and how captain Steven Gerrard urged teammates “we go again’’ in front of television cameras after an important win in their 2013-14 runner-up season.

The 28-year-old Queenslander will use one of his remaining injury-protected entries from his groin surgery recovery last year in order to make the main draw for the Australian Open.

Millman, ranked No.128, raised a tired grin for supportive home fans at Pat Rafter Arena, who has gamely fought back from two career-threatening injuries.