John Millman edged past Frances Tiafoe 6-3 4-6 6-4 to reach the final at the Astana Open in Nur Sultan. Millman has reached his third ATP Tour final one day after saving two match points against Tommy Paul in the quarter final on Friday.
Both players went on serve in the first four games with no break points. Millman saved a break point to hold his serve in the fifth game for 3-2. Tiafoe won the final three games with a double break to seal the first set 6-3.
In the second set Tiafoe saved two break points to hold on his serve at deuce in the fifth game for 3-2. Millman won the final three games thanks to a break in the ninth game to win the second set 6-4.
Tiafoe broke serve at love in the second game of the decider to open up a 3-0 lead. Millman broke back at 15 in the fifth game to draw level to 3-3. The Australian player converted his fourth break point in the ninth game and sealed the win on his first match point when Tiafoe fired a crosscourt backhand into the tramline.
Millman avenged his recent defeat against Tiafoe at this year’s US Open. The Australian player has now improved his win-loss record to 15-11 on the ATP Tour this year.
“I definitely did not want to play three sets. I was pretty tired after yesterday’s match. It was tough out there today with really physical tennis. Frances is a top player. He is obviosly so dangerous”, said Millman.
Millman set up a final against Adrian Mannarino, who beat Emil Ruusuvuori 7-5 6-2. Mannarino started with an immediate break in the opening game. Ruusuvuori broke back in the fourth game to draw level to 2-2. Mannarino broke for the second time in the 11th game to win the first set 7-5. Mannarino broke twice in the first and fifth games to open up a 4-1 lead. The Frenchman saved two set points on serve before serving out the match at deuce in the eighth game.
Mannarino has not dropped a set yet this week. The third seed lost just seven games en route to the semifinals with wins against Yuichi Sugita and Mackenzie McDonald.
