US Open 2018: Fear the ball, not the man hitting it

John Millman believes he is more than capable of unsettling another giant of the sport, Novak Djokovic.

Roger Federer waves to the crowd as he leaves the court after losing to John Millman. Picture: AP.

After stunning the legendary Roger Federer to claim the biggest win of his career in New York yesterday, John Millman believes he is more than capable of unsettling another giant of the sport, Novak Djokovic.

The Brisbane resident, ranked 55 in the world, played with remarkable poise in his first-ever outing on Arthur Ashe Stadium, defeating the 20-time grand slam champion 3-6 7-5 7-6 (7) 7-6 (3) in three hours and 35 minutes.

A practice session in the days before the US Open with Andy Murray on the Arthur Ashe court, where the crowd is bigger than any other in tennis, helped Millman settle and when Federer dropped his guard as he was serving for a two-set lead, the Australian was able to pounce.

John McEnroe, calling the match for ESPN, described it as “one of the biggest upsets in tennis history — 29 years of age, toiling for years in the minor leagues of tennis, and he pulls off the upset”.

The key to his victory was a determination to respect the tennis ball coming at him while disregarding the aura of the legend striking it.

A total of 98 titles and a career prize money disparity of almost $160 million separates them, but when Millman stepped on to the court against Federer, he considered himself an equal.

“I’ve never played anyone’s reputation. That has been a constant with me … ever since I played the game,” he said.

“Because I think if you do that, then you start behind the eight ball straight away. Obviously it’s probably a bit of a shock to a lot of people. But that’s a great thing about tennis. That’s a great thing about sport.

“There are always upsets that can happen. I’m very aware that Roger didn’t have his best day. I know that. Like I said, I have so much respect for him (and) what he’s done for the game.

“Our career paths are slightly different, but I’ll enjoy this moment.”

Millman now meets Djokovic in the quarter-finals and his approach to the reigning Wimbledon champion, who thrashed him at Queens in their most recent encounter, will be no different.

“Why not? Again, I’ll have to improve a lot on the last time I played him. He’s an incredible player. And I think he’s in some really good form right now, too,” he said.

“But why not? I think it is a disservice to who I am if I go out there and don’t have that belief.

Australia's John Millman celebrates.

“Hopefully I can create a few more memories. I’ll obviously remember this for a long, long time. I hope the people who are watching here and back home remember it, too. It’s extremely special. But hopefully I haven’t got a bullet in me yet. I can create a few more memories in my career.”

There are several elements that conspired to help Millman produce one of the greatest upsets in Australian tennis.

And Millman touched on one of those aspects in a post-match interview with Brad Gilbert, telling the former top-10 ranked player and coach of Andre Agassi that he had read his acclaimed strategy book called Winning Ugly.

As scintillating as the Australian’s shot-making was at times against Federer, Millman’s strategy is largely based around making life extremely uncomfortable for his rivals through placement and consistency.

Noting Federer appeared to be struggling in the stifling conditions, Millman tried to work him from side-to-side to fatigue him further.

Prior to the match against the Swiss superstar, ATP Tour analyst Craig O’Shannessy, who also consults with the Djokovic camp, told The Australian he had noted a surprising statistical quirk with the right-hander.

He sat dead last of the 16 men left in the tournament in regards to hitting winners, clubbing approximately six per 100 points played.

Federer, in comparison, was making about 24 winners for every 100 points played. Yesterday Millman lifted that to almost 20 per cent, with his backhand passing shots in particular superb.

The statistical breakdown reads like a nightmare for Federer. It is littered with errors.

The 37-year-old, who has lost only three of the 35 matches he has played at grand slam level over the past two years in a run that has seen him claim Wimbledon and two Australian Open titles, made 77 unforced errors to Millman’s 28.

And his serve, which is arguably the greatest the game has seen, was particularly awry throughout the second set and in general, as ten double faults to one illustrates.

He served-and-volleyed more often than usual and hit drop-shots regularly, albeit often ineffectively, in a bid to shorten points.

Having won five US Opens in succession from 2004, Federer’s drought in New York extends to a decade.

Federer struggled in the oppressive conditions, saying at “some point I was just happy that the match was over”.

But he was full of praise for his conqueror, describing him as a man to respect.

“John, well, I love his intensity,” he said. “He reminds me of David Ferrer and those other guys that … I admire a lot of when I see them, when I see how they train and the passion they have for the game.”