Brisbane tennis star John Millman chips in for parents’ holiday

WITH his US Open success doubling his prizemoney this year, Brisbane’s John Millman has a special treat for his parents, who’ve been “a real rock”. Here’s how he plans to spend his winnings.

BRISBANE’S John Millman says he wants part of his $662,000 US Open tennis bounty to go towards his parents’ end-of-year holiday.

Millman, Queensland’s tennis battler-made-good, has already earned $1.28 million in prizemoney this year – 39 per cent of his entire earnings during his 12-year professional career.

Homecoming hero

‘Yesterday’s news’

And Norman Park’s US Open Federer-buster said he would like to buy another property after purchasing a Clayfield apartment this year.

His parents, Ron and Shona Millman, leased a tennis centre at Carindale when their tennis-loving son was a teenager, and they also bankrolled his early advances onto the gruelling, dollar-pinching Futures and Challenger circuits.

“I’ve been given opportunities from my family, and been given every bit of support from my mum and dad, four sisters and my extended family,’’ the 29-year-old told The Courier-Mail from Stuttgart in Germany.

“They have always been a real rock for me.

John Millman says he has been given every bit of support by his extended family.

“A good support is not just there to celebrate when things are going well, but pick you up when things aren’t going so well. They’ve done that many times.

“I try to get dad along to some of the tournaments (including Wimbledon this year), and they are going on holiday at the end of the year. Mum is trying to refuse, but I told her that after the US Open, I’d love to fix up a fair bit of that holiday. Maybe they can have a little bit more spending money.

“We do Secret Santas in our extended family, so whoever gets me hopefully gets the best present.”

Ron Millman last night said he appreciated his son’s generosity to those close to him, but he and his wife would insist John instead set himself up with further real estate investments.

Ron and Shona Millman at their Norman Park home after son John’s giant-killing effort against Roger Federer earlier this month. Picture: Ric Frearson/AAP

Millman, who yesterday confirmed he would start his 2019 season at the Brisbane International tournament in January, said his prizemoney haul enabled him to invest in his tennis career as never before.

The US Open quarter-finalist follows the Australian property market well enough to know his home city is the only one of the state capitals showing enough growth to encourage investment at the moment.

“I love it back home and think Brisbane is a great city with a lot going for it. If I can invest in Brisbane, I will,’’ he said.

“Having some good results this year means I can invest in my tennis, travelling week in and out with a coach, and also eat a little better.

“It’s a struggle on the lower levels of professional tennis, so I’m eating better on tour, rather than two-minute noodles.’’