MEET JOHN MILLMAN AUSTRALIA’S HUMBLE HERO!
After his shock win against Roger Federer, the tennis player’s become a household name
It says everything about John Millman that when he landed in Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games – as a last-minute call-up after household names Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios controversially pulled out of the team – he described representing his country as “the greatest achievement” of his career. Then he got the Olympic rings tattooed onto his right bicep to back up the claim.
In a world of bad boys, Aussie tennis officials call his relaxed and humble attitude a breath of fresh air. Now, after a stunning win against tennis god Roger Federer in the US Open last week, nice guy John has become Australian tennis’ newest superstar.
Although he can be flashy on the court, insiders say John is nothing but respectful and modest off it. Known as hardworking and gallant, he’s a popular guy – particularly with women. “Millmania”, as the fever-pitch screaming by his female fans is called, has long been a thing in his hometown of Brisbane, where he grew up in a close-knit tennis-playing family of hard workers and teachers, led by mum Shona and dad Ron.
FAMILY COMES FIRST
Ron, nicknamed “the Fox” by his son, flies over to Wimbledon whenever his son plays there, with John documenting his adventures on social media and proudly hailing him as his inspiration. And he’s just as devoted to his mother: after winning a tournament Shona attended in France last year, John dedicated the victory to her, calling out “Love you, Mum” as he hoisted the trophy.
Friends say John never takes for granted the great start his parents gave him, with them working two jobs to put their kids through private school and buying a tennis centre to give their sporty offspring every chance to develop their talent.
The second youngest of five children, John has four sisters – Shona, Kara, Tessa and Bronte – and says his characteristic cheekiness comes from his need to be heard in a household full of women.
He beat Roger at the US Open on Tessa’s birthday, after she jokingly instructed him to go out and win for her as a present. She knew saying that wouldn’t make her brother nervous because he’s always such a cool cat who works so hard and deserves every success. And he has a signature catchphrase – “I play the man not the reputation.”
John took up tennis at the age of four because his older siblings all played and he wanted to join them. His mum says, as a child, he was a sore loser when his sisters won, so she was glad when he finally dominated them and put that lone example of bad behaviour to rest.
While John loves the game, friends tells Woman’s Day he adores his family, and laments having to miss out
‘Tessa jokingly instructed him to go out and win as a present’
on milestones such as weddings and the births of his nieces and nephews because he’s been away on tour.
PIN-UP & SPORTS LEGEND
Having courted the attention of thousands of tennis-loving girls last week, single John will have to get used to life as the new pin-up of the Aussie team. Friends says that while he’s had girlfriends in the past, he finds it difficult to maintain a serious relationship with all the travelling he has to do for the game he loves more than anything. Instead, he’s often joined on tour by his best mate from high school.
At 29, John has come late to fame. But insiders say he’s done the hard yards and deserves to be a household name. He’s battled numerous injuries that have required major surgery and stalled his career. But those close to our latest sporting hero say he’s shown amazing persistence and never let the injuries that have sidelined him get him down. And each time he’s returned to tennis and had a win, he’s been sure to publicly thank the doctors and nurses who have helped him recover.
Thanks to his old-school passion for the game, tennis insiders say John was already well-known to Roger when the pair took the court last week – not just as a hitting partner, but as a respected player who serves up smart and strategic tennis and is capable, as he’s now proved, of beating the best in the business!