Journeyman John Millman is living a real-life tennis fairytale after stunning Spanish star Tommy Robredo in straight sets in a dream Wimbledon debut.
Just three days after setting foot inside the All England Club for the first time, the starry-eyed 26-year-old crushed Robredo 6-2 6-3 6-4 in just 88 minutes on Monday to join celebrated countrymen Bernard Tomic and Nick Kyrgios in the second round.
Robredo is the seven-times grand slam quarter-finalist who removed Roger Federer and Kyrgios from the past two US Opens.
But the 19th seed had no answer for Millman, who followed up his three qualifying wins off site at nearby Roehampton with the sweetest success of his injury-ravaged career.
“It’s fantastic. I probably couldn’t have gone out there given the conditions and given the moment and played any better,” Millman said.
“I was seeing it big right from the start and never backed off and really backed myself, and that was the key.
“It was just special for me.”
Special too for his parents Ron and Shona, who was too nervous to sit courtside after her triumphant son had flown them over at the weekend to share in the magic of Wimbledon themselves for the first time.
“They’re just as completely gobsmacked at the place as me and that’s what makes tennis special for me, to be able to share these moments with the people you love,” Millman said.
“It’s extremely special to have them here.”
Lost in the moment of his qualifying heroics, Millman also promised to invite his four sisters if he made the third round.
Now “only” Marcos Baghdatis, the Cypriot showman who made the 2006 Australian Open final, stands between Millman having to dig deeper into his Wimbledon earnings to fetch further family members from Australia.
“I’m actually a bit scared that if I do make the third round, geez, I’ll call up Qantas and try to make a deal with them,” Millman said.
The affable Queenslander needn’t worry.
He is guaranteed a cheque for STG47,000 ($A97,000) – doubling his season earnings – and another win on Wednesday would boost his post-Wimbledon pay day to STG77,000 ($A159,000).
“I don’t necessarily do anything for money or for cheques. I would’ve quit a long time ago if I did it for money, that’s for sure,” Millman said.
“That’s what makes it special, to be able to play and share in the moment, not just for yourself but with the people who have been with you every step of the way.
“It’s not just here, I’ve got so much support back home. It’s incredible.”
