Yes, John "The Mailman" Millman has retired from tennis. Of course everyone would like to retire with a title aka Pete Sampras, but life isn't always like that. It was the body that let him down in the end. I mean it's just a fact of life the older you get, the longer it takes to recover. It's a fact in your teens and 20s going out every weekend and having fun that gets more difficult as you get older, even more so in professional tennis with the travelling, the surface changes, speed endurance of the sport grinds you down after a while.
Millman was never one of the favoured sons of the establishment or junior hotshot like Tomic who peaked at a young age and had everything give to him. Unlike many of his peers Millman finished school before attempting to make it on the tour. It definitely wasn't a smooth rise up the rankings as Millman had suffered a lot of injuries especially to the shoulder, hip, in addition to managing an ongoing back condition. For further information about the early days and emerging career please check an older interview I did with the Mailman John Millman Interview
It could be argued that Tennis Australia did treat Millman's career as an afterthought. Online there was a big backlash about Millman not getting a wildcard to the main draw of the Australian Open. This sentiment was shared with the numerous people of different and diverse backgrounds that I spoke with at the venue. Yes, that was universally a poor decision, though at the same time it was very strange he never got a wildcard to Brisbane, considering how much he promotes the city, it was his last event and all of that.
Millman was top 40 in the world, played Davis Cup, represented Australia at the Olympics and achieved the rare feat of winning 6-0 6-0 at the Tokyo Olympics, defeated Roger Federer at the US Open and probably should have done it as well at the Aus Open. You know the Spanish and French federations would make sure their well established veterans would get a main draw wildcard to their final event.
Connection
I had first come across Millman at the Burnie Challenger many years ago. Yes, kids it's fun watching Challengers and qualies at Slams, especially when you see how they develop their careers. Even the current big guys played at that level once.
This sums up Millman in many ways. In the words of former Spanish player and former TA coach Felix Mantilla. " When you play like me that you must be running all the day, I don't have the serve of Sampras or the volley of Rafter or the talent of Agassi, you know. I must be very focus every point. I must be strong mentally", To adapt that for modern times it would be the serve of Isner, the return of Djokovic or the talent of Federer.
As Millman did not have the natural talents of Federer, Kyrgios and other players, he made up for it with work ethic, fighting spirit and doing everything possible to maximise his talents. Just like our new Aussie Open Jannik Sinner, Millman was raised by outstanding parents who can be proud of the man he has become. A great competitor, resilient after all the injury comebacks, an outstanding sportsman who has the respect of fans and peers.
Best Wins
Court 3 at Melbourne Park is easily the best show court at the venue and it's not close. This is where Millman won his first ever 5 set match against the Luxembourg serving machine Gilles Muller. The fact Millman was hititng with Wayne Arthurs a leftie who could hit a 100 serves off the same balltoss helped him a lot.
Millman was returning well and showing a lot of positive body language. Millman is stepping into the court getting the balance right between attack and defence. The crowd are loving it and spurring him on. There was the chant “I believe, I believe, I believe he will win” and the Mailman delivered a great victory in the end. That was the match that put him over with the crowd and developed a connection with them which became Millmania, as he is relatable and accessible to the average punter . It was the court that he became familiar with and fitting he played his last match there.
I was very happy that Millman managed to win an ATP title before retirement, especially after what happened in Budapest. On the clay Millman had made his first ATP final and potentially was going to play against Seppi in the final. This was averted by a certain Italian lucky loser Marco Cecchinato who ended up winning the title and beating Djokovic at Roland Garros.
Luckily Millman was able to get another opportunity to win a final in Kazakhstan against Mannarino and was able to do so. If there was ever an individual to deserve an ATP title it was Millman.
In terms of ranking the Mailman delivering the feat of beating Roger Federer at the US Open would classify as his biggest win. I was at work unable to watch the match but following on the scoreboard. In the final set tiebreaker decided to take an unscheduled break and watch the buster with shit reception. I was waiting for the confirmation that he had actually won the match, such a great moment. Of course everyone in the local media wanted to know about John Millman and the parents got bombarded with media requests. Yes, the 15 minutes of fame thing.
Yes, I still hate the 5th set tiebreaker and Millman had 8-4 against Federer to win in Melbourne Park. It was the classic playing the situation and not point by point and sadly lost the match. Tennis is such a brual sport, there are some days you play well and lose, others you play like a donkey and win.
Closing Time
Millman after he lost in qualies was working for the local commentary and also on a tennis podcast during the Open. Yes, he was outstanding in those roles and hope he comes back next year to do them. Doesn't talk too much during commentary and adding information at the right time.
Now the new chapter begins back in his beloved Brisbane. Hanging out with the friends, partner, pets, watching Liverpool FC and going down the academic route. You just know that he will do well in whatever direction life takes him. From the Burnie Challenger, the injuries, the comebacks and the other stuff it was an honour to follow his career.
It's not always about the titles and the money. There are only so few places at the top of the tennis tree. After some time to reflect, the question for the athlete is did they give themselves the best opportunity to maximise their abilities
On that note the Mailman definitely delivered.
