John Millman of Australia reacts after he lost a point in his match against Roger Federer. Source: Tertius Pickard / AP
JOHN Millman walked off with dejection last night from the match in which he led the great Roger Federer by a set and a break at his home city tournament, the Brisbane International.
On what had been tracking to become one of the most remarkable nights in Australian tennis history, Brisbane battler Millman refused to be intimidated by the record of Federer before losing 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 at Pat Rafter Arena.
Millman, ranked No. 156, had won three ATP Tour matches before last night and Federer 996.
But the Queenslander delivered on his vow before the match that he would not be daunted by the reputation of Federer, the man who has won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other, and fight for each point.
"I'm very disappointed and upset with the result, but I'm not discouraged,'' he said. "I took it to one of the greatest players of all time and it was a privilege to play him, but I play to win - I believe in my game and my fitness. I had opportunities but I didn't quite do it.
"I love playing at this tournament, in front of the people who have helped me through my injuries and I can show them their time isn't wasted,'' he said.
Millman will make a decision later today on whether to fly to Sydney for qualifying, which starts tomorrow.
"I have to make smart decisions with my body,'' he said.
John Millman comes unstuck against Roger Federer. Source: Getty Images
John Millman takes an early lead against Roger Federer. Source: News Corp Australia
Millman, 25, was able to check out last night with no real regrets, as he kept hitting for the lines and trusting his baseline game, undaunted by the unlikely opportunity he had given himself.
He led by a set and 3-1 with a point on his serve to move to 4-1 but was thwarted by Federer's forehand.
Federer ran off the last four games of the match, looking like a man who has solved a devilish puzzle.
"I thought I was lucky in the second set. He was playing great tennis,'' Federer said.
"First match of the year, you can't be sure what will happen.''
Federer said he had felt surprisingly tired in the first set and became tense when he was unable to convert four break points in the opening game.
"There were maybe some nerves when I realised he was playing well,'' he said.
"He was the more consistent player and was dominating the baseline.
"I started to feel better in the second set and I had to elevate my game because he wasn't letting go.
"He's a great competitor … great attitude and moves well.''
The world No. 2 will tonight play the determined Brisbane-based James Duckworth, a wildcard ranked No. 125 and one of three Australians in the men's quarter-finals.
Roger Federer prevailed in three sets. Source: News Corp Australia
Millman has some consolation in that he has ensured he will be granted an Australian Open main draw wildcard and will then play a couple of Challenger level events in Australia or overseas.
Just as he did against Andy Murray at Rafter Arena two years before, Millman won the first set to the delight of a home crowd growing in belief.
Murray edged the 2013 match in three sets, but this time Millman played a peerless game at 2-1 in the second set to break serve again with three groundstroke winners.
Federer made 19 unforced errors in the first set and the Norman Park right-hander having enough smoke on his first serve, ranging into the 190km/h range, to keep the subdued and inconsistent top seed guessing.
Millman, a wildcard entry, admits he had wondered last summer if surgery to the labrum in his right shoulder would recover enough to permit him to play tennis at the top level again.
A man without airs and graces from a family with four sisters, he relaxed on the eve of the match of his life by having a steak at the Norman Hotel with his mates.
