At 34 years of age, Australian tennis stalwart John Millman has decided to hang up his racquet after over 15 years of grinding away on the professional tour. In a surprise announcement on his social media accounts this week, Millman thanked his loyal fans and supporters for their encouragement throughout his career.

John Millman burst onto the scene in the late 2000s as a promising junior from Queensland, who turned pro in 2007. Lacking a big serve or single-handed backhand, Millman’s greatest weapons were his never-say-die attitude and relentless court coverage. His tireless defensive skills allowed him to extend points and matches well beyond his opponents’ expectations. This style of play soon earned Millman the moniker “The Grinder.”

Early career success of John Millman

The early years of John Millman’s career saw steady progress as he broke into the top 200 in 2010. A semifinal run at the 2011 Australian Open launched him into the top 100 for the first time. However now, with an emotional message, Millman called it a day.

In a recent tweet, Millman exclaimed, “All good things come to an end. After the upcoming Australian Summer I’ll be retiring from professional tennis. I’m incredibly grateful for all the support I’ve had throughout my career. It’s been a thrilling ride living out a dream I had as a kid. “

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John Millman continued climbing, reaching a career-high ranking of #38 in 2016 after making the quarterfinals at the 2016 Tokyo Open and winning his first ATP title at the 2016 Apia International in Sydney. These results highlighted Millman’s ability to punch above his weight against top opponents.

3 Years After Epic Battle Against Roger Federer, 33-Year-Old John Millman Expresses Major Disappointment With Aussie Crowd’s Bias at Rod Laver Arena

John Millman and his signature wins over big names

As it often happens in an athlete’s career, injuries began hampering John Millman’s progress in his late 20s. Knee issues required surgery in 2019 and disrupted his season. He worked tirelessly to regain form but struggled to recapture consistency. The COVID-19 pandemic also made the challenges of international travel even tougher. By 2021, Millman’s ranking had slipped outside the top 100. He acknowledged that these struggles influenced his decision to retire, saying “the body starts telling you when it’s time to step away.”

While never achieving consistency in Grand Slam results, Millman collected notable wins that showcased his giant-killing potential. In 2014, he stunned former world #1 Lleyton Hewitt in the Davis Cup to help Australia advance. His most famous victory came in 2018 when he shocked 20-time major champion Roger Federer in four grueling sets in the third round of the US Open. Millman outlasted Federer 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(7), 7-6(3) in a dramatic 3-hour 36-minute marathon that showcased his never-say-die attitude. Other big wins came against top 10 opponents Alexander Zverev, Stan Wawrinka, and Fernando Verdasco in subsequent years.

While his career did not end with a major title, John Millman leaves an impressive legacy as one of Australia’s most popular players of the last decade. His giant-killing feats, like upsetting Federer, ensured he will always be remembered fondly by Aussie tennis fans. Millman also inspired the next generation of Australian players with his never-give-up attitude. Rising junior Olivia Gadecki stated that “John showed what can be achieved through sheer hard work and determination on the court.” After over 15 years proudly representing his country, Millman retires, having cemented his place in Australian tennis history as one of its all-time great grinders.

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