John Millman ‘annoyed’ at Roberto Bautista Agut time out in Wimbledon first round defeat

Australian’s Wimbledon singles adventure is over as controversy rages over Spaniard’s 10-minute time out at crucial stage of fourth set.

John Millman’s Wimbledon singles adventure has came to a premature and controversial end on the first day of a rain-delayed competition.

The Brisbane player succumbed Roberto Bautista Agut in four sets after the Spanish veteran inexplicably called an extended medical time out during a tie-breaker in the crucial fourth set.

Millman was furious with the momentum-crushing time out, noting that he had never before seen a ten-minute delay at such a crucial stage of a game.

“To be honest with you I am a bit annoyed with that,” said Millman.

“Obviously it‘s a bit raw in the mind and I wish things had played out a little bit differently in that tie-breaker. You know, he stopped for ten minutes; whether we could have got the physio earlier I don’t know but that’s a three-all tie breaker in the fourth set. That’s going to stop momentum, you know.”

Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut serves during his victory over Australia’s John Millman. Picture: AFP

Millman was at least able to finish his match after day one of the Championship was repeatedly delayed by rain. Other Australians like Sam Stosur and Alex de Minaur had their games postponed for the day, and will join Ash Barty and Nick Kyrgios in action on Tuesday.

Millman’s narrow loss highlighted the difficulties of being on the tennis circuit for an extended period, unable to return home because of few incoming flights, Australia’s cap on arrivals and the two weeks of quarantine.

“I can’t go home, so every week I enter into a tournament,’’ Millman said.

“If my body is fit I just go there. Honestly I don’t want to cry for me but for an Australian tennis player or New Zealand tennis player right now, it is the absolute grind. It’s an absolute grind. It is one of the tough things in tennis. There’s bigger things in life, but in tennis, being an Australian or New Zealander right now is the opposite of the bee’s knees.’’

Millman said his disappointment was exacerbated because of the conditions of being in a bio-secure bubble.

While Wimbledon spectators fans are without masks and free to wander, all of the players are housed in a central London hotel and have to be bussed to the venue. The centralised process has raised concerns that if several players test positive for Covid-19, it could dramatically impact on the progression of the tournament.

“It’s tough conditions too, guys, we’re in a bubble. It’s an 11-month trip that I am going to be on, I’ll get home sometime in December and I’m in bubbles every week.

John Millman hits a forehand during his first round loss at Wimbledon. Picture: Getty Images

“Wimbledon’s a big tournament, the Olympics are coming up, I have to make it worthwhile because I’d rather be home sometimes, and right now I feel like I’d rather be at home.”

Millman, 32, exited the Championships 2-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-7 after more than three hours of play.

At 3-3 in the fourth set tie-break, Millman appeared on a roll, but Agut suddenly limped on his leg and called for medical attention.

When the physiotherapist arrived to work on his leg, Agut munched on a banana and drank water while Millman belted down some serves to keep warm.

Millman later said he should have handled the delay better, suggesting that he should have gone for a run around the championship venue.

Then once the match restarted, at 6-4 in the tie breaker, Agut slipped on the grass, this time on his right leg and he fell to the ground clutching his groin.

“At 6-4, that (fall) was completely legitimate, that was an acute (injury); definitely the grass is pretty long, and it‘s a bit slippery early on in these tournaments … that was an acute injury that one,’’ Millman said.

The Australian immediately ran to Agut’s assistance, picking up his racquet and patting him on the shoulder. Agut was just one point from winning the match, but could he continue? As the physiotherapist ran onto the court, Agut picked himself up, walked to his towel, wiped his face and then served the winning point. Game, set and match.