Millman battles through illness to beat Tiafoe in three-set thriller
John Millman was so sick when he woke up on Tuesday morning that he considered forfeiting his round-one match at the Sydney International.
But the Australian journeyman was determined not to pass up the opportunity to play before a home crowd, so he soldiered on — and produced a fighting victory for the ages, coming back from a set down to take the next two sets on tiebreaks against American world No.39 Frances Tiafoe.
"It’s was a tough decision actually coming out today [because] I was actually pretty crook," Millman said. "Woke up this morning with the flu and really dizzy up there, but any chance to play at home in Australia I think you’ve got to try to take it."
Millman’s comeback victory kept him occupied for 2 hours and 39 minutes on a hot and humid Ken Rosewall Arena after playing on Monday night in the Fast 4 competition with Nick Kyrgios against Rafael Nadal and Milos Raonic.
Best known for his humble reaction to beating Roger Federer in the US Open last year, Millman displayed plenty of class on his way to the win. Early in the match, Millman saved Tiafoe a challenge by informing him that his serve had been called let.
Later when Tiafoe’s ball was wrongly called out, Millman informed the umpire that it was in, conceding a point and game to the American. It could have been a decisive moment in the match, forcing Millman into a tie-break for the second set. The Australian had already lost the first set 4-6.
"It wasn’t ideal losing that first set. I thought if I had any chance of winning, I had to kind of win that first set," Millman said.
But Millman came through in the tie-break in the second set, winning 7-5. And with momentum on his side, Millman then claimed the third set 7-5.
Millman dropped his serve during the deciding set but attributed his ability to pick it up to the crowd willing him on, including Lleyton Hewitt.
"It’s that never say die attitude that a lot of Australians have," Millman said. "Definitely in that third set, with a bit of momentum, I was down a few times."
It was a particularly sweet return to Sydney for Millman, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career.
"For me that’s my biggest battle, with my body," he said. "I’ve had three pretty significant surgeries and each time I’ve had to start from scratch and I’ve had a great team around me that have helped me get out here and I’m very grateful for that. I feel like I owe it to them to, everyone time I step out on court, just give that little bit extra for them."