John Millman has proven to be a giant killer for ticket resellers with passes to one of the US Open’s headliner matches slashed just minutes after the Australian’s upset victory over tennis great Roger Federer.
The 29-year-old’s fairytale win nullified a highly anticipated clash between Novak Djokovic and Federer.
The on-court rivalry between the top-ranked pair and each man’s ability to beat the other on any given day sold waves of tickets to the quarter-finals in New York, as people preemptively assumed the two would meet again.
Tickets for the headliner match were slashed after John Millman’s upset victory over Roger Federer (pictured)
The 29-year-old Australian’s fairytale win nullified a highly anticipated clash between Novak Djokovic and Federer
The market reacted to Federer’s loss by slashing resale ticket prices to the clash by upwards of 75 per cent.
Resale giant StubHub was originally selling tickets to the men’s quarter-final session for $259 a pop for upper-tier seating, with prices rising from there.
Tickets are now selling for $66, with $250 buying a coveted sideline slot.
Despite the lack of demand for tickets, the match has retained its primetime slot of 7pm New York time.
Meanwhile, Millman’s parents and one of his four sisters, Tessa, spoke with Sunrise about the monumental win, and where their loved one goes from here.
‘He just showed everyone what he can really play. It’s wonderful,’ his father Ron said.
John Millman’s parents (pictured with their son) were overwhelmed with pride, saying ‘we haven’t spoken to him, but it won’t change him’
Millman took up tennis at the age of four, wanting to keep up with sisters Shona, Kara, Bronte and Tessa (pictured left, with her parents), who all played as well
‘We haven’t spoken to him, but it won’t change him. I think if anything it will give him the confidence that he can play to that level.’
In one of the greatest tennis upsets of all time, Brisbane-born Millman defeated the former world number one 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 7-6 in four sets despite never having claimed a career title.
He took up tennis at the age of four, wanting to keep up with sisters Shona, Kara, Bronte and Tessa, who all played as well.
After being plagued by consistent injury and requiring multiple shoulder reconstructions, it was only through sheer determination that Millman ever came back out onto the court
After being plagued by consistent injury and requiring multiple shoulder reconstructions, it was only through sheer determination that Millman ever came back out onto the court.
Federer himself held great respect for the relatively unknown Aussie, and spoke highly of him both before and after the defeat.
‘Maybe not that many people know him, but he’s a real hard-working guy out there and those are the guys who have all the respect from us top players in the locker room,’ Federer said.
Federer also revealed that he invited Millman to train with him in Switzerland earlier in the year.
Federer himself held great respect for the relatively unknown Aussie, and spoke highly of him both before and after the defeat
‘We were looking for somebody who was a great guy, who could train hard,’ he admitted.
‘He’s just come to Switzerland to train with me before the grass-court season so we know each other quite well, a super friendly guy, and I’m very happy for him that he’s gotten so far.’
After his loss to Millman, Federer’s praise continued.
‘I think he’s got a great backhand that he can protect very well down the line and crosscourt. When you attack there in the wrong way, he will punish you, punish you every time for it,’ Nine reported.
‘He reminds me of David Ferrer and those other guys that, you know, I admire a lot when I see them, when I see how they train, the passion they have for the game. I love his intensity.’
Millman is the first Australian to make the men’s quarter-finals round since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006.
His odds of winning his next match against Djokovic are at $10. The match will air in Australia on SBS from 10.15am on Thursday.
Millman is the first Australian to make the men’s quarter-finals since Lleyton Hewitt in 2006