Australia's John Millman has been the victim of online abuse. JOHN Millman wants tennis authorities to name and shame cyber bullies after revealing he’d fallen victim to online trolls bitter about losing bets on his matches. In an extraordinary — and sad — postscript to his magical US Open run, Millman said he even expected to come under attack after losing his quarter-final to grand slam colossus Novak Djokovic. “I’ll have some probably now,” Millman told AAP before departing New York on Thursday. MORE US OPEN NEWS BEAUTIFUL: Djokovic’s classy tribute to ‘fighter’ Millman WOW: Picture proves ridiculous double standard WATCH: Millman and Joker’s 16-minute brutal baseline battle “It’s a bit of a headache and a bit of a blight at the moment that a lot of players have to deal with. “I don’t know the answer. Look, you try to ignore it but there’s a fair few idiots out there that something possesses them to get online. “You get that always whenever you have a loss.” Millman has previously spoken out about online abuse, and suspected it was “100 percent betting driven”. “I do think what’s happening there (on social media) is disgusting,” Millman wrote for Players Voice earlier this year. “I wouldn’t have social media if I didn’t have to, because we cop verbal tirades day in and day out. “The abuse is 100 per cent betting driven. Every now and again you check out a profile of one of these guys. You see they’ve got kids, and you really question what type of people they are to treat others the way they do.” Australia’s new tennis hero is by no means alone. Retired countryman Sam Groth once claimed that even his girlfriend and family had received death threats after some of his matches. American Nicole Gibbs told CNN last year that she’d first started receiving online abuse while playing college tennis. Gibbs said a disgruntled Twitter user posted: “You are so f***ing bad. I hope you die slowly, but f***ing painfully ...You have deserved it! WHORE.” Wimbledon finalist Kevin Anderson is another to have suffered through what Millman believes is an epidemic that needs serious attention. The popular Queenslander said he copped online abuse after his first-round loss to Taro Daniel at Winstom Salem the week before the US Open. Millman has learnt to deal with such appalling bullying but says it can be distressing for players. “I’d just like them (the trolls) to be named and shamed a bit more. Some of these people have families and stuff and they’re hurling abuse at people,” he said. “I find it a bit strange, but obviously they lack a little bit of character.” It’s incredible to think Millman could find himself such a target after stretching Djokovic to almost three hours in a 6-3 6-4 6-4 defeat that was much closer — and stressful for the Serbian superstar — than the straight-sets scoreline suggests. “I’m really, really proud — not proud but happy — with how my body has held in there and physically I actually feel pretty good in this caper,” Millman said. “I mean, it’s tough. Playing against Novak, I think the guy’s beat a brick wall once. “He makes you work hard for every point and it’s relentless. It’s time and time again. And that’s the difficulty playing against him.” Millman, who will climb to a career-high ranking inside the world’s top 40 for his Flushing Meadows run, will get little respite. He was leaving for Europe on Thursday to spearhead Australia’s Davis Cup tie against the Dominic Thiem-led Austrians in Graz next week.<doc-sep>FREE for news on the biggest players and tournaments SUBSCRIBE Invalid email Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. The heat and humidity has caused all sorts of problems at the US Open with Roger Federer “struggling to breathe” during his shock fourth-round exit against John Millman. Djokovic handled the conditions better than his Swiss rival when he took on Millman - knocking the Australian out of the competition in straight sets this morning. But the Serbian still had numerous breaks throughout the match as he was frequently forced to change his sweat-soaked clothes. Djokovic revealed after his 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory that he even spoke to the chair umpire about the conditions at court level. “I asked the chair umpire whether they are using some form of ventilation or air conditioning down at the court level side, and then he says that he's not aware of it, that only what comes through the hallway type of thing,” Djokovic said. “I think that this tournament needs to address this. “I mean, because whether it's night or day, we just don't have air down there. It feels like sauna. “I don't know what to add to that, you know. Obviously the roof, is fantastic to have the roof. Novak Djokovic is through to the US Open semi-finals Arthur Ashe Stadium has been incredibly humid with the roof shut “We, as players, are grateful that we have the roof, because then the rain will not interrupt the matches and matches will go on on two courts, which is great. “But I think that with so many players retiring that first round, first day or second day, and so many players struggling to breathe, especially on the centre court, which there is no circulation of the air at all, especially court level. “So I think that's something to really think about, consider and address.” Djokovic is next in action against Nishikori on Friday and he is looking forward to another difficult encounter. Djokovic beat John Millman this morning Roger Federer reflects on John Millman US Open loss<doc-sep>New York (AFP) - John Millman reached his first Grand Slam fourth round on Saturday and admitted he faced a dilemma over who he'd like to meet next -- 'hero' Roger Federer or Australian compatriot Nick Kyrgios. Millman, 29, downed Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, 6-3 in the third round of the US Open. He will next tackle 20-time major winner Federer or the fiery Kyrgios, who meet later Saturday, for a quarter-final spot. "With Nick, you always expect the unexpected and Roger, well he's my hero," said the world number 55. "Whoever it is, it will be a challenge and at least I am in the position to have that challenge." Millman has endured a rollercoaster career in getting to this stage, undergoing two surgeries on his shoulder and one on his groin. As a result of his injury toils, his ranking slumped to 1,101 in August 2014 but recovered to 71 just 12 months later. After his groin operation, he was slipping again with his ranking at 235 in August last year. However, he has enjoyed a solid 2018, earning his first top 15 win over Lucas Pouille in Budapest on his way to a maiden ATP final where he finished runner-up. Last month, he reached a career-high ranking of 49. "This is the biggest moment of my career," said Millman. "It's been a bumpy road. I have had three surgeries and every time I had extreme doubts over whether I would get back. "But I have got great people around me who lift me up when I'm feeling sorry for myself."<doc-sep>When you subscribe we will use the information you provide to send you these newsletters. Sometimes they'll include recommendations for other related newsletters or services we offer. Our Privacy Notice explains more about how we use your data, and your rights. You can unsubscribe at any time. Sign up forfor news on the biggest players and tournaments That’s the view of John Millman, who Djokovic knocked out of the US Open at the quarter-final stage with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory. Millman had seen off Federer in the previous round with Nadal on the other half of the draw at Flushing Meadows. Should Djokovic now beat Kei Nishikori and Nadal get the better of Juan Martin del Potro, the pair will meet in Sunday’s final. Djokovic trails Federer and Nadal in Grand Slam titles with the Serb on the hunt for his 14th in New York.<doc-sep>
AUSTRALIAN tennis battler John Millman has struck grand slam gold, booking a dream US Open date with Roger Federer and banking a cheque for $370,000 to boot. “I will definitely go to the prize money desk and collect my cheque. That’s for sure,” Millman said after his life-changing 6-4 4-6 6-1 6-3 third-round triumph over Mikhail Kukushkin at Flushing Meadows. But Millman doesn’t play for the money. TENNIS LESSON: Federer sends Kyrgios crashing out of US Open The 29-year-old plays for love and now he’s reaping the rewards. In addition to his first-time appearance in a grand slam second week, Millman will also crack the world’s top 50 for the first time and earn a coveted place on Lleyton Hewitt’s Davis Cup team for Australia’s historic tie against Austria this month. “If I had played tennis for the money, I would have quit a long, long time ago because I have come from the scraps just about on the tour,” he said. “For me, it was more about being able to create that opportunity to put myself in a position where I am playing second week of a grand slam. That is very special.” Now asked about John Millman, his next opponent. Fed says he’s a big fan of John, not many people know him but he’s a really hard working guy, those are the guys who get lots of respect from the top players in the locker room. Says Millman came to Switzerland to train with him... — Andrew Burton (@burtonad) September 1, 2018 It wasn’t so long ago that Millman feared his injury-plagued career was over. “I’ve had three surgeries in my career, two shoulders and the last one a groin, and every time I’ve had extreme doubts if would get back,” he said. “But I have a great team around me that pick me up when I feel sorry for myself. Without them, I wouldn’t have this opportunity.” And what an opportunity it is: the great Federer on tennis’s biggest stage after the Swiss denied Nick Kyrgios an all-Australian showdown with Millman with a 6-4 6-1 7-5 dispatch of the Canberran in a vintage display. While Nick Kyrgios goes two sets down to Roger Federer on Ashe, his Davis Cup captain is on the practice court, rather than being courtside as he was for John Millman earlier. Interesting. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/D5jX3ZUXnK — Catherine Whitaker (@CWhitakerSport) September 1, 2018 Millman spent several days training with Federer at the 20-times grand slam’s Swiss base before Wimbledon and says he won’t be overawed. “I’ve got a lot of respect for Roger. He’s got an aura about him. Definitely a player I’ve looked up to throughout my career,” MIllman said. “But have never been a fan of playing anyone’s reputation. When you go out on court, I think it’s about engaging in a battle. “I definitely won’t be thinking about those things. I want to start off at love-all and not already being behind the eight ball and playing someone’s reputation. “If you do that, I think you can get bogged down and you’re in a bit of trouble. “I will relish the opportunity.” Get ready for cricket like never before. FREE Sport HD + Entertainment until the first 4K cricket ball as part of 3 months free on a 12 month plan. SIGN UP TODAY. T&Cs apply.