Aussie giant-killer John Millman has Novak Djokovic in his sights... and a major hurdle before then
ORDINARILY, a quarter-final showdown with Novak Djokovic would be an all-consuming scenario. But for Aussie giant killer John Millman, there’s a major hurdle standing on front of him.
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IT must surely shape as the most unusual preparation for taking on one of tennis’ all-time greats, but the sport’s newest cult hero isn’t about to let his mates down.
Australia’s John Millman dethroned the king, Roger Federer, in a four-set epic that wrapped up around 1am New York time — and had to turn his eyes to Thursday’s quarter-final showdown with two-time US Open champion Novak Djokovic.
But rather than a well-deserved lie in, Millman will set his alarm for the an early wake up so he can dial in for... an NFL fantasy draft.
THE END: World reacts to Federer’s shocking defeat
HISTORY: How John Millman became tennis’ latest giant killer
For NFL nuts, the fantasy draft can be one of the most important days of your year:
it can make or break how the next four months play out.
Will you spend every weekend pulling your hair out after drafting bust after bust?
Clearly Millman isn’t willing to take the chance.
When asked about his clash with Djokovic, Millman referenced the Serbian’s 6-2 6-1 thrashing at Queens this year — which took place ahead of the former World No.1’s Wimbledon triumph.
“Last time I played him I got three games at Queens, so let’s hope for a few more,” Millman joked.
“I’m playing some good tennis right now. Novak’s an incredible player.
“He’s playing such good tennis right now off Wimbledon and winning Cincinnati also.
“He moves incredibly well. He’s another guy that I’ve looked up to with his game style and the way he goes about it.”
And then he opened up about the draft — which he’ll be taking part in ahead of Friday’s NFL season opener between Superbowl champions the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons.
“It’s 1am now, I probably should get a recovery... (and) I’ve got a 7-o’clock-in-the-morning fantasy draft,” Millman said.
“So I’m going to get up for that and hopefully have a good draft.”
To put that into context, players typically take several hours to unwind after completing a match: the time it takes to fulfil media commitments, complete recovery, eat food, return to the hotel and — if they can — stop the adrenaline from pumping through their veins in order to actually get to sleep.
Millman has all that ahead of him — and also the pressure of owning the second pick in his draft.
So Millman turned to the crowd — who had shown him precious little love in the preceding hours as he stunned the legend they’d all come to see — and asked for some help.
“I’ve got the second pick. I don’t know whether to go (Los Angeles Rams’ Todd) Gurley or (Pittsburgh Steelers running back) Le’veon Bell,” he asked.
It’s the question on everybody’s lips, really. Gurley and Bell are the consensus top two picks in fantasy drafts this year.
But if his victory over Roger Federer is anything to go by, Millman has the Midas touch.
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Originally published as Aussie giant-killer John Millman has Novak Djokovic in his sights... and a major hurdle before then
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