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'Great Aussie battler': John Millman pulls off epic Davis Cup comeback

australian associated press
·3-min read

Stalwart John Millman has produced a great escape to deliver Australia a two-nil lead over Brazil in their Davis Cup tie.

Millman was staring at defeat when his opponent Thiago Seyboth Wild served for a straight-sets victory on Friday at Adelaide's Memorial Drive.

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The 30-year-old Aussie was two points away from losing before completing a Davis Cup comeback for the ages to leave the Adelaide crowd in raptures.

Millman conjured a break, then romped through the tie-break without conceding a point en route to a stirring 4-6 7-6 (7-0) 6-2 triumph.

Pictured on the left, Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt cheers on John Millman during the Davis Cup tie against Brazil.
John Millman's win put Australia firmly in the box seat against Brazil in their Davis Cup tie. Pic: Getty

The World No.43 summoned his renowned tenacious qualities against the powerful Seyboth Wild, who produced a thunderous early onslaught.

The 19-year-old Brazilian, who won his first ATP title last week at the Chile Open, streeted to a 5-1 lead in the opening set with a series of forceful ground strokes.

But, with scores 5-2, play was halted for about 25 minutes as a spectator was treated for a medical emergency.

At the resumption, Millman won consecutive games before the imposing Brazilian, whose world ranking of 113 is destined to rise, served out the set.

In the second set, Seyboth Wild broke Millman's serve in the fifth game and saved two break points in the next game.

At 5-4 and serving for the match, the Brazilian saved two more break points before Millman converted a third to level at 5-5 and turn the tide.

The Australian produced a perfect tie-break to claim the set.

In the third set, Millman broke Seyboth Wild's serve in the fifth game, then again two games later, to coolly close out victory.

Thompson got Aussies off to dream start

Millman's compatriot Jordan Thompson had earlier accounted for Thiago Monteiro 6-4 6-4 in the opening rubber.

Australia now has one proverbial foot in the cup finals in Spain in November ahead of Saturday's doubles and reverse singles.

Thompson delivered Australia an opening victory courtesy of late breaks of serve in the 10th game of each set.

"Fortunately every time I have played Davis Cup on day one, I have played the first match so I knew what to expect," Thompson said.

"And I'm really pleased with the result and the performance."