Dogged Australian journeyman John Millman has gained the upper hand against French up-and-comer Ugo Humbert in an exhausting first round encounter on Court 3.
The world no. 48 weathered his opponent’s tricky southpaw game and their combined tendency to draw out rallies beyond 10 shots to secure the opening two sets 7-6(3) 6-3.
With chants raining down from the rambunctious home crowd before play commenced, the tone was set early with a 23-shot rally pushing both players to all corners in the opening game, before Humbert punctuated the exchange with a mid-court drop shot.
Humbert is looking great against John Millman.
Watch: @Channel9
Stream: https://t.co/kfkrfkzNs1#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/A82U1le2HL— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 20, 2020
Millman, who notably shocked Roger Federer en route to the 2018 US Open quarterfinals, found early difficulty countering the Frenchman’s forehand, and fell three break points down in his second service game.
However, six deuces later, Millman evened the ledger.
Humbert then began finding difficulty finding range off the backhand, taking aim at chair umpire Alison Lang – twice – before Millman notched up two of his own break point chances.
This was the first one and the second one was even closer#AusOpen
— Lachlan McKirdy (@LMcKirdy7) January 21, 2020
But both went begging, courtesy of errant forehands.
Trading service holds into the tiebreaker, Millman gained ascendancy off a Humbert double fault, and after running the 21-year-old ragged in a lengthy exchange, utilised his opportunity to close the set out.
The 30-year-old Australian found the going easier in the second set, after succumbing to an early break.
Finding his range and punishing Humbert’s weaker backhand wing, Millman rallied to recover the deficit to the approval of Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt, seated in his player’s box, before closing it out 6-3.
Looking forward – tonight’s must-watch matches
Jennifer Brady (USA) vs Simona Halep [4] (ROU)
Tonight’s first-up match on Margaret Court Arena sees 2018 Australian Open finalist Halep face red-hot Brady, who dispatched both Maria Sharapova and world no.1 Ash Barty, in the Australian’s first outing in Brisbane.
The Romanian, reeling from a swift exit at the hands of brawny Belarussian Aryna Sabalenka, will need her counter-punching game on song against the American’s trademark power.
Daniil Medvedev [4] (RUS) v Frances Tiafoe (USA)
In a match pinned by many as the pick of the men’s first round, 23-year-old Medvedev will be endeavouring to kick off his 2020 in similar fashion to his remarkable 2019.
His year included six consecutive finals post-Wimbledon, which culminated in his thrilling five-set loss to Rafael Nadal in the US Open decider.
First up is the American Tiafoe, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on the first day of the championships, and is desperately seeking his own breakout year.
Many would remember the powerful American from his captivating run to last year’s quarterfinals in Melbourne, defeating then-world no.6 Kevin Anderson and former semifinalist Grigor Dimitrov on his way to the last eight.
The post Australian Open: Millman kicks off Australian tilt on day two appeared first on The New Daily.
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