Underdog Millman makes for perfect people’s champion

For every Roger Federer, vanquisher of Pete Sampras by the age of 19 and Wimbledon champion by 21, or Novak Djokovic, semifinalist in each major (with a title at the Australian Open) by age 20, there are a thousand John Millmans.

Millman is the tennis everyman, an emblem of those hype-less aspirants chasing a dream — and a living wage — in the lower rungs of professional tournaments, far from the ATP Tour, never mind the spotlight and fat paycheck of a Grand Slam.

Except on Monday night, this Australian Rocky knocked out the decorous Swiss version of Apollo Creed. Millman stunned Federer, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7), 7-6 (3), in the fourth round of the U.S. Open, and rather than “Oi, Adrian,” he turned thoughtful and appreciative about the years of persistence that brought him to this moment.

“I’ll obviously remember this for a long, long time,” the 29-year-old Brisbane native said. “I hope the people who are watching here and back home remember it, too. I think that’s all part of tennis, sharing the experiences with those close to you. ... It’s extremely special.”

Millman turned pro in 2006 and did not win a match on the tour level until 2013. From 2007-12, playing in ITF Futures events and the occasional Challenger Tour draw, Millman earned an average of $21,840 per year.

In 2013, he finally played some majors and cracked the top 200 in the rankings. In 2014, after shoulder surgery, his ranking dropped to 1,193.

Now, Millman is up to No. 37 in the live rankings and will deposit at least $475,000 for his two weeks of work.

“A couple of shoulder surgeries, a groin surgery. Not so easy. With that, you have to start all over again,” Millman said. “That’s challenging. It’s challenging financially. It’s challenging physically. It’s challenging mentally. Yeah, it’s tough to start all over again a few times.

“But, you know, you do it. And you do all those moments in rehab, you do all that for something like this. It all becomes a little bit more rewarding.”