Matt Ebden pulls off biggest win of his grand slam career as John Millman also progresses

AUSTRALIA’S No.2-ranked male Matt Ebden has pulled off the biggest upset of his career as compatriot John Millman also progresses to the second round of the Australian Open.

Matthew Ebden celebrates after winning his first-round match.

SO FOCUSED was Matthew Ebden on his first-round Australian Open clash he was caught off guard when asked post-match about his next opponent.

Big serving American John Isner, the 16th seed for the tournament, was someone Ebden had been unable to beat from three previous encounters.

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On Monday, the Australian got one back in a meticulous dismantling.

At his favourite grand slam and with a vocal home crowd behind him at Margaret Court Arena, Ebden continued his resurgence from world No.699 this time last year to top-20 slayer with a four-set triumph 6-4 3-6 6-4 6-3.

“I didn’t even know who I would play next round until the interviewer asked me on court,” Ebden told the Herald Sun, that opponent being Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.

“I didn’t look at the draw. That’s just respect for John.

Matthew Ebden reacts after upsetting John Isner.

“It’s not my biggest win but it’s definitely a great win.

“I executed things well and stepped over the line well and found a good energy and positivity with the crowd with what I was doing out there so it was really enjoyable.”

The victory pushed the West Australian into the second round for just the third time in seven attempts at Melbourne Park while Isner was sent packing in the opening round of a grand slam for the first time since the 2014 Australian Open.

Now 30, Ebden has clawed his way back to No.78 since the knee injury that ruined his 2016 season and put his ranking in free fall.

Ebden’s career-high ranking is No.61 but, now feeling as good as he has about his game, the top-50 is in his sights.

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“I think it (my ranking) could be a lot higher than that,” Ebden said.

“I’ve beaten guys in the top-20, I’ve beaten guys in the top-10. I’m doing that a lot more consistently now and of course that’s where I want to be.

“I only broke the top 70 when I was 23, not when I was 18 or 19. So I feel like I’ll have that extra five years even from now that I’ll still be able to play at a very high level.

“Since I’ve been a kid I’ve always wanted to be in the top-10. I know that’s a lot of work and a lot of matches and a lot of wins away but ultimately I want to be the best I can be whether that be 60, 45, 26, 15, 8, 5.”

In the night session, self-confessed Aussie battler John Millman’s upset 7-5 6-4 6-1 triumph over Croatian young gun Borna Coric was no less or more momentous with or without the attention that might be granted to some of his fellow Australians.

John Millman is congratulated on his win by Borna Coric.

Millman, 28, has bounced back from groin surgery that wiped out the first half of his 2017 season and also threatened his career.

But while a march to the third round of last year’s US Open - which included an opening round shock of Nick Kyrgios - demonstrated Millman’s comeback was on the right path, his Showcourt 3 victory over Coric was further proof he is once again ready to mix it with the ATP Tour’s big guns on a consistent basis.

Millman’s only other wins at Melbourne Park came in 2016 when he made it to the third round.

And a similar run beckons here with 28th seed Damir Dzumhur lying in wait in the second round.

Coming to Melbourne under an injury cloud after losing to Alex De Minaur in Sydney last week, Dzumhur had to endure a five-set thriller against Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi on Monday.

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Alex Bolt lost in five sets. Picture: Michael Klein

Jason Kubler also bowed out in the first round.

Nor is he worrying about whether the spotlight is shining brightly upon him this week or if it’s cast in the direction of others like Kyrgios or De Minaur.

“The reason why (the other guys) are getting that attention is because they’re great tennis players, with great potential moving forward,” Millman said.

“Nick can potentially can win these grand slam events and it’s pretty unusual for an 18-year-old to play like Alex did at ATP events in the last two weeks.

“They should be getting attention, that’s fine.

“The attention I get from my friends, my family, that’s the most important thing, and out there on Showcourt 3 they created a buzzing atmosphere for me.

“That really lifts you and fires you up.”

In other Day 1 results, Queenslander Jason Kubler put up a fight against 10th seed Pablo Carreno Busta before falling in four sets, 7-5 4-6 7-5 6-1.

South Australian Alex Bolt was also a first-round casualty, falling to Serbian Viktor Troicki in five sets, 6-7 4-6 6-2 6-3 6-4.