Everyone’s darling Roger Federer was playing Australian John Millman, the man who famously trashed St Roger’s chances at the 2018 US Open.
Of course that wouldn’t happen in 2020, would it ? Maybe the Swiss ace would be kind enough to let slip just a set to the Aussie nice guy on the way to his rightful place in the round of sixteen.
Millman served first and was mean, giving literally nothing to the third seed who committed more errors in one game than he’d possibly contributed in the month to date.
Roger hit the first winner of the match and levelled the contest 1-1. Millman held serve a second time before sending a shockwave around the stadium.
Federer hit the net with a forehand, then escaped scrutiny after committing a pretty ordinary drop shot to the script. An ace eased his mind for a few seconds, but two lousy forehands gave him a headache and Millman a break point.
They visited deuce after Millman failed a backhand test, but Federer was competing for backhand inferiority and a second break chance resulted. Millman hit the mark with a backhand out of reach of someone who indeed looked like Federer, but trailed 1-3.
The happier player on court smiled even more when he avoided danger in the fifth game. Down 30-40, he selected a gold standard forehand winner from his bag, and used it to perfection. He moved further ahead 4-1.
Later, after the pair had exchanged pleasantries, unwilling to break each other’s service games, Mr Millman expressed a desire to take home the first set. Mr Federer argued the merits of this, and at 3-5, receiving service, he forced his adversary forward twice, once into error, and next to witness a passing forehand. Following errors from each, a backhand missile from a previously neutral Switzerland devastated Mr Millmans mission, albeit temporarily.
At 4-5, a momentarily more content Federer leapt into despair, rocked by a series of incidents not all of his own making. Millman’s forehand success, and Federer’s double fault headlined the hit show, supported by a couple of unforced errors, and the finale was a 6-4 set win for the Australian.
The pair hit the road for the second leg of the tour, and they entertained thousands with their exploits on the court, serving strong and each determined to avoid break point territory.
Deuce was only visited once through eight games, and love games were on show in games nine and ten.
6-6 was inevitable, and a tie break next. Federer was the star of this encore, a streak of five successive points taking him to five set points, all based on attacking with his serve and forehand. The set was in the Swiss bag 7-6(2).
Set three continued the serving delight, Federer not interested in deuce. Millman was taken there in the fourth game, and also in the eighth, an unpleasant period where he was held hostage over a break point. Negotiations for release included the condition that Millman pass Federer with a forehand winner. He agreed to the demand and was freed.
Sadly the Australian was recaptured, a long hunt finally successful after one failed set point attempt. Federer ahead 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4.
In the fourth chapter Millman had escaped and was on the run, this time chasing after Federer. He made up ground by 3-3, and was ready for the assault. Federer was at the line, but misfired with a forehand. Millman also missed with his first two attempts. A more accurate forehand drive wounded the Swiss king, and he was further injured when he hit the net. Another shot into the net, and Federer was down 3-4.
Millman left the sore and sorry Federer behind as he raced to pick up the fourth set bonus.
Serving at 5-4, Millman saw Federer miss with a backhand three times and finally a forehand, to lose his gold and silver.
The ultimate showdown began with the warriors fit and ready - well ready - for war. Apart from the third and fourth stanzas, where services were breached, security was sound and no break ins to either compound occurred. Twelve battles were fought and the results were shared evenly. The outcome was to be decided by a unique (an in this writers opinion ridiculously flawed) tie break. First to 10 with a two point advantage.
Millman reached a 8-4 lead and seemed set to rule over the kingdom, but alas - Federer had stolen his ammunition at an end change !
The king shattered the heart of John Millman by winning the last six shoot outs and the epic contest 4-6 7-6(2) 6-4 4-6 7-6 (10-8)
No comments:
Post a Comment