Tennis world in shock over 'worst match of Federer's career'

John Millman has caused a huge boilover at the US Open with the match of his life against Roger Federer.

But for as well as the Australian played, Federer was well off his game after winning the first set and holding a set point in the second.

“I’m probably in a little bit of disbelief,” Millman said after the match.

FULL STORY: Millman defeats Federer to reach unlikely quarter-final

“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.”

The stats tell the tale.

Federer landed just 49 per cent of his first serves, recorded 10 double faults and committed 76 unforced errors.

The Swiss world No.2 held two set points in the second and, after failing to take his chances, sent down a double fault to be broken.

Despite a long break for fresh clothes at one changeover during the match, which was played in humid conditions and finished well after midnight, nothing improved for Federer.

He was so out of sorts he even missed a ‘gimme’ smash at the net on game point in the fourth set.

Federer’s ugly final three frames of the match were in stark contrast to the first set, when Millman felt overawed by an opponent who at that point was confident he would see off the challenge.

“I felt like a bit of a deer in headlights to begin with, to be honest with you,” the Australian said.

“The feet weren’t moving. 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.”

Many keen tennis watchers immediately described the defeat as one of the worst matches Federer had ever played:

Not since Pat Rafter handed a tantrum-throwing Federer a lesson on the 18-year-old’s grand slam debut at Roland Garros in 1999 had an Australian conquered the tennis great at a major.

Since then, nine Australians – 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 very same court on which 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 out of the tournament.

Millman’s stunning victory made history in more ways than one:

• Federer’s earliest exit at a grand slam since the 2015 Australian Open (third round).

• Federer’s earliest exit at the US Open since losing in the fourth round in 2013

• Millman’s first ever win over a player ranked in the top 10

• Federer’s first loss to a player ranked outside the top 50 at the US Open

• Federer’s first loss to an Australian at a grand slam since 1999

• Federer’s first loss to a player ranked outside the top 50 at a grand slam since 2003 French Open

While few gave the Brisbane baseliner a chance, Federer had full respect for Millman.

He had invited him to Switzerland before Wimbledon this year to prepare for the grass-court season – but he could not have expected Millman to maintain such a high level for more than three and a half hours.

In addition to earning a crack at Novak Djokovic for an improbable place in the semi-finals, Millman is guaranteed a $US475,000 ($660,000) pay day and a rankings rise to No.37 in the world.

Should he beat Djokovic, he will leapfrog Kyrgios to become Australia’s new No.1 player.

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.

with AAP