Defeating Roger Federer was the great dream of all players. The former Swiss champion made tennis history thanks to his numerous victories, but his impact on the sport was perhaps even greater.
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The 20-time Grand Slam champion was the most loved player in every tournament in the world, he had the cheering of the fans on his side even against local idols and his elegant game was a source of inspiration for all those approaching tennis.
Among the players who achieved the feat of beating the King, there is John Millman.
The Australian defeated the Swiss Master in a Grand Slam tournament, in the round of 16 of the 2018 US Open, shocking the whole world that was already looking forward to a quarterfinal between Federer and Novak Djokovic.
That day, John played an amazing match despite losing the first set and took advantage of an almost unbearable humidity to surprise the Swiss legend on the iconic Arthur Ashe Stadium. Millman came very close to repeating the feat in the third round of the 2020 Australian Open, forcing Roger to win in the fifth set after a sensational battle on the Rod Laver Arena.
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Millman on defeating King Roger
On the latest edition of The AO Show, Millman recalled his famous win against Federer in New York: Roger really sets up his game style with that backhand slice. I think he has a great backhand slice. And I think some players will drop that one a bit short or cant quite penetrate and cut sideline off that slice. As soon as you go a little bit central with him he is so close to get around and use his forehand and open you up. That opens up so much landscape for him and all of a sudden he can use his angles, he can get in, he can use his hands at the net. We know how good a volleyer he was. I never really struggled with that.
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John also added: He wants to try different things and I felt as if I could repeat these patterns, with quality, I felt as if you could almost fool Roger and he would try and do something which wasnt quite on. I know that sounds silly and I might type to Roger and be completely off the mark, but thats at least what I felt.
