FEDERER MAKES GREAT ESCAPE, SURVIVES TO FACE ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN WILD CARD IN BRISBANE BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 8th January 2015

FEDERER MAKES GREAT ESCAPE, SURVIVES TO FACE ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN WILD CARD IN BRISBANE BY RICKY DIMON

epa04550799 Roger Federer of Switzerland reacts during his second round match against Australia's John Millman at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 08 January 2015. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT |

For a fleeting moment it felt like Roger Federer would suffer the same fate that had befallen Rafael Nadal in Doha: a first-match ouster. Instead, Federer fought back to beat John Millman 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in round two of the Brisbane International on Thursday.

Millman, a 25-year-old Australian wild card, had won 22 consecutive sets heading into this showdown. He captured two Challenger titles last fall before crushing Rhyne Williams 6-3, 6-1 in his Brisbane opener.

Australia’s John Millman returns the ball to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their second round match at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 08 January 2015. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Armed with incredible confidence, Millman came out firing against Federer. The world No. 153 converted his fourth set point to break Federer at 4-5 in the first set and he even stormed to a 3-1 lead in the second. Federer broke back for 2-3 but soon faced three more break points on his own serve at 0-40. When the 17-time Grand Slam champion dug out of that hole as well, he was off to the races.

Federer pulled through the middle frame of play then dominated the third with breaks at 3-3 and 5-3.

“I thought I got quite lucky,” the No. 1 seed assured. “He was playing great tennis until maybe the last couple of games. I had to fight very hard. Credit to him for pushing me to the edge.

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns the ball to Australia’s John Millman during their second round match at the Brisbane International Tennis Tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 08 January 2015. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

“I didn’t play badly, but maybe felt a bit tired at times. The first match of the season you never know quite what to expect. I am sweating like crazy. I am happy we had a good match and I got through in the end.”

Up next for Federer is James Duckworth, another Aussie wild card. It has already been an outstanding week for the 22-year-old, who cruised past a hobbled Gilles Simon 6-2, 6-2 before upsetting Jarkko Nieminen 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-3. This is the second meeting between Federer and Duckworth. They faced each other in the first round of last season’s Australian Open, with the favorite dominating 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

As for Nadal, he lost in the Doha first round to Michael Berrer but is through to the doubles semifinals with Juan Monaco.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp, Brisbane International, Doha, John Millman, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

January 8, 2015 at 8:36 am

-@rogerfederer MAKES GREAT ESCAPE, SURVIVES TO FACE ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN #wildcard IN #BRISBANE BY @Dimonator http://t.co/CyqgPMgTMc #tennis
Dimonator says:

January 8, 2015 at 1:32 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@rogerfederer MAKES GREAT ESCAPE, SURVIVES TO FACE ANOTHER AUSTRALIAN #wildcard IN #BRISBANE BY @Dimonator http://t.co/C…