Millman spoils punter's $35,000 Federer play
John Millman’s stunning upset win over Roger Federer at the US Open defied the odds and one overconfident punter was made to pay.
In a life-changing performance, Millman left Federer – and fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium – shellshocked with a 3-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-3) comeback victory to book a quarter-final date with another all-time great, Novak Djokovic.
While the shocking win will be great for Millman’s bank balance, one customer was made to regret the result.
UNBELIEVABLE: Tennis world in shock over ‘the worst match of Federer’s career’
NICE GUY: Millman’s classy tribute to his ‘hero’ Federer
A $35,000 bet at $1.02 was placed on Federer to win for what would’ve earned the sports fan just $700.
By the time the match was underway, the Swiss world No.2 was $1.01 and Millman out to $14.
The punter might’ve felt good about the play when Federer held two set points for a two-sets-to-love lead, but once he squandered those opportunities it was all downhill from there.
Not since Pat Rafter handed a tantrum-throwing Federer a tennis lesson on the then 18-year-old’s grand slam debut at Roland Garros in 1999 had an Australian conquered him at a major.
– including Nick Kyrgios only two days ago, Mark Philippoussis in the 2003 Wimbledon final and Lleyton Hewitt seven times – had fallen prey to Federer in 20 straight grand slam matches over almost 20 years.
But on the same court Federer destroyed Hewitt 6-0 7-6 6-0 in the 2004 US Open final, Millman stared down the greatest player of the professional era to send the world No.2 crashing to his earliest grand slam defeat in almost four years.
“I’m probably in a little bit of disbelief,” Millman said after smashing Federer’s 40-from-40 record against non-top 50-ranked rivals at the US Open.
“I have so much respect for Roger and everything he’s done for the game. He’s been a hero of mine and today he was definitely not at his best but I’ll take it.”
It was only Federer’s third defeat from 35 matches at the majors since Wimbledon two years ago.
The upset for the ages looked remote when Federer broke Millman – playing his first fourth-round match at a slam at age 29 – in the second game en route to taking the opening set.
“The feet weren’t moving,” Millman said, likening himself to “a deer in the headlights”.
“Roger had it on a string, he was manipulating me around the court. I got out of a tough second set and really found my feet and started to be a bit more aggressive.
“I started to serve really well and probably capitalised a little bit on Roger having an off service day.”
While few gave the Brisbane baseliner a chance, Federer had full respect for Millman, having invited him to Switzerland before Wimbledon this year to prepare for the grass-court season.
But he could not have expected him to maintain such a high level for more than three and a half hours.
In addition to earning a crack at Djokovic on Wednesday for an improbable place in the semi-finals, Millman is guaranteed a $660,000 payday and a rankings rise to No.37 in the world.
Should he win, he will leapfrog Kyrgios to become Australia’s new No.1.
And all this after Millman feared his career was over following two shoulder surgeries and then a groin operation last year.
The winner of the Djokovic-Millman quarter-final will play seventh-seeded 2014 champion Marin Cilic or Japanese star Kei Nishikori for a spot in Sunday’s title match.
Millman is the first Australian to reach the men’s quarter-finals in New York since 2001 champion Hewitt 12 years ago.
But the world No.55 will need to reverse a straight-sets drubbing at the hands of Djokovic just two months ago at the Queen’s Club to continue his giant-killing run.
“Last time I played him I got three games,” he said. “Let’s hope for a few more.”
with AAP