John Millman musters ‘all-time great comeback’ in Davis Cup thriller

John Millman looked down an out with young Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild serving for the match, but the World No. 43 is nothing if not a fighter.

Thiago Seyboth Wild lost his cool late in the match.

John Millman has taken the unlikeliest of Davis Cup victories against Brazilian Thiago Seyboth Wild in a three-set comeback thriller.

Coming on after Jordan Thompson thumped Thiago Monteiro 6-4 6-4 in the first tie, World 43 Millman was struggling early 19-year-old World No. 113.

But he held his nerve and mustered a brilliant comeback to claim the 4-6 7-6 6-2 victory to give Australia a 2-0 lead after the first day in Adelaide.

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James Duckworth and John Peers are the team’s nominated doubles pair with the match set to start tomorrow at 12.30pm AEDT before the reverse singles rubbers.

While it was expected that Millman would run away with the victory, it was the case as the Aussie was quickly on the backfoot.

Seyboth Wild, fresh off his first ATP title win in the Chile Open last week, raced to a 5-1 lead in the opening set with a series of forceful ground strokes.

Millman was down 5-2 in the first before a stoppage after a spectator collapsed in the crowd before rallying.

John Millman pulled off an epic comeback.

But it wasn’t enough as he lost the first 6-4, and the second appeared to headed the same way.

Down 4-2, Millman needed to lift, he broke at the last second

“What a fightback,” Todd Woodbridge said on Channel 9 commentary.

Sam Groth called it “one of the best comebacks in Australian Davis Cup history”.

Millman said he was shell-shocked by Seyboth Wild’s start but hit back when his back was against the wall.

The young Brazilian was serving for the match in the second set but Millman, down 5-4, held his nerve to take the clutch break.

“I think I showed a bit of grit out there, I used the bench, the team, soaked up the experience of Lleyton (captain Hewitt) and Rochey (Tony Roche),” Millman said. “I’m just happy I got through, that’s what Davis Cup is all about, never giving up and that’s the Australian way.”

He also praised the vocal home crowd for pushing him along.

It was a perfect start for Australia, particularly with Alex de Minaur and Nick Kyrgios out with injury and the team’s depth on show.

Hewitt said Millman “leaves his heart on his sleeve and will leave everything out on the court for his country”, as well as saying it would “go down as a great Davis Cup victory”.

It was a thrilling win for the 30-year-old Queenslander, as he celebrated with fans and his teammates after the stirring victory.

💥 👏🎾 Blooody rippa Millman!!!! https://t.co/1F56a2uXi6

— Stacey Peters (@staceykeats) March 6, 2020

In trademark fashion, John Millman fights back to take the second tie in three sets. AUS up 2-0 heading into Day 2. Seyboth Wild lost control in the second set and never regained it. Unforced errors hurt him but there’s plenty of potential in the 19yo. #DavisCup @abcgrandstand

— Aaron Bryans (@AaronBryans) March 6, 2020

Huge fight from John Millman in Adelaide... down a set and 2-4, he wins the second in a tiebreak. All heart #DavisCup #AUSvBRA #wwos

— Clint Stanaway (@cstanaway) March 6, 2020

Australia now has one foot in the Davis Cup finals in Spain in November ahead of the doubles and reverse singles.

But, with scores 5-2, play was halted for about 25 minutes as a spectator was treated for a medical emergency.

Earlier, Thompson delivered Australia an opening victory courtesy of late breaks of serve in the 10th game of each set.

“Fortunately every time I have played Davis Cup on day one, I have played the first match so I knew what to expect,” Thompson said.

“And I’m really pleased with the result and the performance.”

— with AAP

Originally published as John Millman musters ‘all-time great comeback’ in Davis Cup thriller