Emotional Millman "annoyed" at Wimby exit
An emotional John Millman has been left fuming about a dramatic end to his Wimbledon hopes, believing his opponent Roberto Bautista Agut's lengthy injury timeout in a decisive fourth set tiebreak may have cost him victory.
Millman, the first Australian to be knocked out on Monday, proved once again in his bitterly frustrating defeat that he's one of the true gentlemen of tennis as he made a beeline to help his injured Spanish opponent even though he was about to lose.
But even though he felt No.8 seed Bautista Agut was one of the good guys, ultimately the 32-year-old Aussie No.2 admitted later that he was "annoyed" by the way he'd lost all his momentum when the Spaniard called for the trainer.
At two sets to one down and with the set tiebreak finely poised, Bautista Agut pulled up sharply when chasing down a short ball and, at the 3-3 changeover, called for the trainer to treat his left thigh.
Millman was unhappy about the timing and the length of the treatment, reckoning it took far too long.
"I still thought I had the crowd behind me and had good momentum, I felt I was in a strong position in that tiebreak. To be honest, I'm a bit annoyed at that (long timeout).
"(We) Stopped for about 10 minutes! I haven't seen that at 3-3 in a tiebreak for a thigh rub. I don't care who's playing . At 3-3 in a tiebreak in a fourth set, that's going to stall momentum."
After the timeout, Bautista Agut recovered well enough to move into a 5-4 lead, yet as he struck a winner to get to match point, he also slipped on the grass and seemed to exacerbate the injury as he slumped to the turf, yelping in agony. "It was an acute injury," Millman accepted.
Now on the brink of defeat against the 2019 semi-finalist, Millman was more concerned about Bautista Agut's wellbeing and went straight across to the other side of the court to minister to the stricken Spaniard, patting him on the shoulder and picking up his racquet for him.
In the heat of an incredibly tight battle, it was a superb gesture from Millman, but only one that might have been expected from one of the most genuine characters on the tour.
When Bautista gingerly got back up to resume battle, clearly recognising he would probably have to win the match there and then because of his injury, he delivered a big first serve that Millman returned long and celebrated a 6-2 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-4) victory after three hours three minutes.
"Look, I give the benefit of doubt to my opponent - I should have handled it better," said Millman. "Should have gone for a run around the grounds or something if I'd known it was going to be a 10-minute delay. It's just frustrating.
"I'm still emotional a little bit. It's tough conditions. We're in a bubble, an 11-month trip that I'm on.
"I'll get home some time in September and I'm in bubbles every week. Olympics coming up, I had to pull out of Roland Garros with injury.
"You want to make it all worthwhile because I'd rather be home sometimes - and right now, I feel like I'd rather be at home."
Millman was the only Australian to finish a match on Monday, with three others failing to see any action because of the lengthy stoppages for rain.
Yet Sydney qualifier Chris O'Connell will return on a busy Tuesday with the opportunity of a lifetime.
His contest against flamboyant French 13th seed Gael Monfils was locked at one-set all - O'Connell took the first 6-4, and lost the second 2-6 - and about to go into a third-set tiebreak when play was called off because of bad light.
