MILLMAN’S ULTIMATE VICTORY TALE
VIRTUALLY every day all month he has been in Brisbane, John Millman has been asked about the night he wore down 20-time major title winner Roger Federer.
“I’ll never get sick of being asked about it – it’s very humbling for me to have touched a few people who said they watched the match,’’ said Millman, the local flagwaver at the Brisbane International, which will start on Monday.
“Just yesterday I went out to Sandgate to have a hit and chat with some of the boys there on a promo day and some of them wanted to know about playing Roger.
“For a couple of hours in 2018, I had people glued to TV and watching me go toe to toe with one of the greats. “It was a pretty cool thing. “I want there to be more matches like that and I feel like I have lots of good tennis in me at 29.’’
Millman, who is the highest ranked unseeded man in the Brisbane field, said the tournament’s week was his most enjoyable of the year.
“It’s also the week that has the most pressure for me,’’ said Millman, ranked No.38 after his US Open quarter-final run amid a season in which he made his first ATP final, in Hungary.
“I put high expectations on myself in Brisbane because I’ve grown up here and play in front of a lot of people who have shaped my career.
“There will be a few more (requests for) tickets this year than normal after this year’s run. The tournament is very generous with what tickets they give me.’’
Millman enhanced his reputation locally with game and skilful three-set losses to Andy Murray, Federer and Grigor Dimitrov at Pat Rafter Arena.
He wants those memories with more wins.
“I’d love to pull off a big upset ... because it’s the last Brisbane International for men in its current format (before the ATP Cup is played in Australia from 2020),’’ he said.