John Millman has beaten Roger Federer at the US Open – and challenged Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals. At the Davis Cup of the Australians in Graz against Austria, he could be the key. A conversation.
By Jens Huiber from Graz
tennisnet: Mr. Millman. The most important question first: Matthew Berry of ESPN was not quite satisfied with your Fantasy Football team. Did that get to you?
John Millman: I was a little nervous to watch that. Because I like Matthew Berry, he’s very big in the fantasy world. But I’m happy to report that I won my first matchup this weekend. I could improve my team in a few places, but it’s all right.
tennisnet: According to my memory, there were weak points in the position of the wide receivers…
Millman: Yes. I’ve invested a lot in the running backs.
tennisnet: Who have you got there? I have Le´veon Bell (Running Back of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who is on strike at the moment, editor’s note)…
Millman: So do I. It’s still patchwork at the moment. But: if you win now, and Bell comes back, then you should have good cards.
tennisnet: When we look at your US Open. You really did give the impression that you were one of very few players who liked to give the interviews before the match.
Millman: Well, it’s really no hard thing to answer a few questions. I’ve always felt pretty comfortable talking. Before I went out to Arthur Ashe Stadium, I was naturally excited. And I think that’s what you saw in my answers.
tennisnet: You beat Roger Federer in the round of 16. Was there a time when you realized the match was spinning?
Millman: The beginning was very difficult for me. First time on Ashe, in front of a full house. And I also started cautiously, which was certainly not part of the match plan. But when I managed the rebreak, when Roger opened for the second set, I really arrived. And the momentum has shifted to my side. And after that I felt very comfortable out there, very quiet, wasn’t nervous at all anymore. I felt controlled.
tennisnet: What was different about Novak Djokovic one lap later?
Millman: Novak was probably the player who was in the best shape in recent months. First won in Wimbledon, then Cincinnati and then the US Open. But honestly, I don’t think I was missing much in the match. And I thought I had everything under control.
tennisnet: The three sets lasted longer than three hours…
Millman: I think I could have won the second set in any case. But I was playing a bad game towards the end of the set. And you can’t do that against Novak. And after that, it was just too big a task to come back against a top-top player. But: I’m satisfied with the quarter-finals. And hopefully I can take the confidence with me.
tennisnet: In the second set, with a score of 2:2, it was a curious situation that you wanted to change your clothes. Or had to?
Millman: I didn’t want that. I really don’t. I had the feeling that at the end of the first and the beginning of the second set I slowly had physical advantages over Novak. He had some slight problems, expressed himself to his box. So I didn’t want to. But unfortunately, the referee stopped me. Which is very unusual.
tennisnet: So that means that the initiative came from the chair referee?
Millman: Exactly. He gave me a few signals in the game before that the court would become unplayable. It’s really unusual. And difficult. It was so hot out there, you can’t control how much you sweat.
tennisnet: You may have to get a point for Australia here in Graz on Sunday. How difficult was it for you to get used to the place?
Millman: I never really have much difficulty with the changeover. I played a long season on clay, also in the German Bundesliga. But unfortunately, I caught this virus. I just hope I’m an option for Lleyton.
tennisnet: Is it true that they would have been the man for the fifth match in Brisbane against Germany, then against Peter Gojowczyk?
Millman: Absolutely. I was preparing to play, they didn’t see me on the sidelines that day. That would have been special. Especially since I know the German players well.
tennisnet: How come?
Millman: I have good contacts to Stuttgart, sometimes I train there. My girlfriend’s from Stuttgart. And I played Bundesliga in Weinheim. So it would have been a great pleasure to play in Brisbane, my hometown. But it wasn’t meant to be. The Germans played a great double and Alexander Zverev showed two excellent matches. It’s just a pity that the format is changed now.