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Roger Federer Falls To Unheralded Australian John Millman At US Open

Roger Federer Falls To Unheralded Australian John Millman At US Open

Tennis legend Roger Federer has been knocked out of the US Open by unseeded Australian John Millman after losing in four sets

Mike Wood

Mike Wood

You don't have to know much about tennis to know that Roger Federer is really, really good at it.

Like unbelievably good. For years, he made the entire sport a little bit boring to watch by being so much better than everyone else at it. It was him, then open space, then Rafa Nadal, then another gaping chasm and then everyone else.

There were the five Wimbledons in a row, the five US Opens in a row, the two years where he made the final of every Grand Slam tournament, the most weeks ever as World Number One...yeah, you get the point.

PA. Probably doesn't get much better than this

Even in his old age - he's 37 now - Federer is still dominating. So, when we tell you that he just lost to an unseeded, unheralded Australian that nobody has ever heard of, then, well, sit up and take notice.

Federer fell to John Millman (pictured above) at the US Open last night in four sets, losing 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 7-6 to the Australian.

Millman is hardly any great shakes in the tennis world. The 29-year-old has never won a title and is currently ranked just 52nd in the world and only fourth in Australia.

Before his victory last night, he had never beaten a top 10 player and had never advanced beyond the Third Round of any Grand Slam tournament.

The pair are actually friends and regularly train together, but Millman said that his victory was all business.

"I always was of the opinion that I was in the fourth round for a reason," he told media after the match. "I've never played anyone's reputation. That's been a constant with me ever since I played the game, because, if you do that, you start behind the eight ball straight away."

Federer took defeat gracefully and speculated that the intense heat of the Arthur Ashe Arena in New York might have affected his performance.

"It was very hot tonight, one of those nights where I felt I couldn't get air," he said. "There was no circulation at all. For some reason, I struggled in the conditions tonight.

"It's one of the first times it's happened to me. I do believe since the roof is on that there is no air circulation in the stadium. That makes it a totally different US Open.

"But John was able to deal with it better. He comes from maybe one of the most humid places on earth, Brisbane. I knew I was in for a tough one. I was just happy that the match was over."

Millman paid tribute to Federer and said that he might have been slightly fortunate to get the great man on an off-day.

PA. Roger Federer reacts to his defeat

"I have so much respect for Roger and what he has done for the game," he said. "Today he definitely was not at his best, but I'll take it.

"I felt like a deer in the headlights at the beginning, to be honest with you. Roger had the ball on a string, but I got a bit more aggressive and probably capitalised a bit on Roger having an off-service day.

"The one thing I can control is the fight in me. It's the one thing I've always done throughout my career."

Conquering Federer earned Millman the first Grand Slam quarter-final appearance of his career, but it certainly does not get any easier. His next opponent will be another of tennis' elite, Serbian star Novak Djokovic.

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: SPORT, Tennis