Unseeded Australian John Millman has turned the US Open upside down with a colossal fourth-round upset win over 20-times grand slam champion Roger Federer.
In a life-changing performance, Millman left Federer - and fans at Arthur Ashe Stadium - shellshocked with a 3-6 7-5 7-6 (9-7) 7-6 (7-3) comeback victory to book a quarter-final date with another all-time great, Novak Djokovic.
Not since Pat Rafter handed a tantrum-throwing Federer a tennis lesson on the then-18-year-old's grand slam debut at Roland Garros in 1999 had an Australian conquered the great Swiss at a major.
Roger Federer and John Millman shake hands at the end of the game. Source: AAP
Nine - including Nick Kyrgios only two days ago, Mark Philippoussis in the 2003 Wimbledon final and Lleyton Hewitt seven times - had fallen prey to Federer in 20 straight grand slam matches over almost 20 years.
But on the same court Federer destroyed Hewitt 6-0 7-6 6-0 in the 2004 US Open final, Millman stared down the greatest player of the professional era to send the world No.2 crashing to his earliest grand slam defeat in almost four years.
"I'm probably in a little bit of disbelief," Millman said after smashing Federer's 40-from-40 record against non-top 50-ranked rivals at the US Open.
"I have so much respect for Roger and everything he's done for the game. He's been a hero of mine and today he was definitely not at his best but I'll take it."
It was only Federer's third defeat from 35 matches at the majors since Wimbledon two years ago.
Federer said the unfancied Australian handled the heat better than he did.
"I was just happy that the match was over," Federer said after the match.
In one of the few times in his unparalleled 1424-match career, Federer all but raised the white flag as he struggled to cope with Millman's relentless counter-attacking and crushing humidity that has turned the US Open into a survival of the fittest.
"It was very hot tonight ... just one of those nights where I guess I felt I couldn't get air," he said.
"Yeah, it's uncomfortable. Clearly just keep on sweating more and more and more and more as the match goes on. You lose energy as it goes by.
"But John was able to deal with it better. He maybe comes from one of the most humid places on earth, Brisbane. I knew I was in for a tough one."
The upset for the ages looked remote when Federer broke Millman - playing his first fourth-round match at a slam at age 29 - in the second game en route to taking the opening set.
"The feet weren't moving," Millman said, likening himself to "a deer in the headlights".
"Roger had it on a string, he was manipulating me around the court.
John Millman fires himself up during the game against Roger Federer. Source: AAP
"I got out of a tough second set and really found my feet and started to be a bit more aggressive.
"I started to serve really well and probably capitalised a little bit on Roger having an off service day."
While few gave the Brisbane baseliner a chance, Federer had full respect for Millman, having invited him to Switzerland before Wimbledon this year to prepare for the grass-court season.
But he could not have expected him to maintain such a high level for more than three and a half hours.
In addition to earning a crack at Djokovic on Wednesday for an improbable place in the semi-finals, Millman is guaranteed a $660,000 payday and a rankings rise to No.37 in the world.
Should he win, he will leapfrog Kyrgios to become Australia's new No.1.
Nick Kyrgios lost to Federer in the third round of the competition. Source: AAP
And all this after Millman feared his career was over following two shoulder surgeries and then a groin operation last year.
The winner of the Djokovic-Millman quarter-final will play seventh-seeded 2014 champion Marin Cilic or Japanese star Kei Nishikori for a spot in Sunday's title match.
Millman is the first Australian to reach the men's quarter-finals in New York since 2001 champion Hewitt 12 years ago.
"Last time I played (Djokovic) I got three games," he said. "Let's hope for a few more."
Gracious in defeat, Federer suspects Novak Djokovic might also be in for a tough one on Wednesday.
"I love his intensity," Federer said of Millman, his summer hitting partner in Switzerland earlier this year.
"I think against Novak, he just has to bring it again, try to worry Novak, hope for another hot day, maybe."
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