AO - Day 2 - Millman v Humbert

John Millman had a tough task first up on Court 3, Day Two of the 2020 AO. He was meeting last weeks Auckland champion Ugo Humbert from France.

After three games, Humbert led 2-1 and no drama yet on serve. But the left handed Frenchman put two forehand winners down the line in the next game, and when Millman netted a simple forehand, he faced three break points. None were converted, nor were two further chances in a game that went to deuce six times, and lasted over 11 minutes.

Humbert had trouble in the seventh game, facing two break points, but he too managed to survive, and led 4-3.

Millman sidestepped two set points against him, once when serving at 4-5 and again at 5-6, and ultimately a tie break emerged. 12 break opportunities had presented themselves between both players, and none had been converted.

Humbert double faulted to begin the tie break. Millman hit an ace but lost any advantage when a backhand went long.

The Australian regained an edge after Humbert found the net with a forehand. 3-2 Millman with two serves to come. Four set points following a long rally ending with a French forehand failure. 

Millman took the set on the second of these, 7-6(3).

After exchanging service holds at the start of set two, the pair decided to exchange service breaks, and the score was 2-2.

At 2-3, after failing to convert a break point in the previous game, Humbert was broken, a double fault and careless errors the cause. 4-2 Millman. 

Serving at 5-3 for a two set lead, Millman found himself at 40-0 after an ace and Humbert mistakes. The set was his when another Humbert forehand sailed out.

Set three was a complete change and Millman failed to hold serve throughout. Humbert served it out 6-1.

Set four appeared to be a servers delight, except for a break point coming in the fourth game after Humbert double faulted.  He was saved when Millman missed with a backhand. Only one game went to deuce, the seventh, and that went there three times, but neither player cracked for 11 games.

At 5-6, Humbert went to the line. 

He led 30-15, but a wide forehand and a double fault brought up match point for Millman. Sadly a second double fault ended the match.

John Millman won 7-6(3) 6-3 1-6 7-5.