Banana-Lover Millman: ‘I’m A Nibbler’

Australians have two more reasons to be proud of Queensland’s John Millman. Firstly, the 30-year-old subbed in for an injured Nick Kyrgios (back) on Sunday morning to give the home team a 1-0 lead against Canada at the ATP Cup in Brisbane.

Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, depending on which industry writes your cheque, the Aussie gave a full-throated endorsement, both on and off the court, for what Queensland’s banana industry can do for your tennis game.

In muggy conditions inside Pat Rafter Arena, Millman ran down everything against Felix Auger-Aliassime, eliciting 42 unforced errors compared to 23 winners from the #NextGenATP star. Millman’s training in his hometown of Brisbane and his nutrition, which always includes bananas, paid off for the 30-year-old.

“You’re losing a lot of fluids. So being in Queensland, I love my bananas, obviously,” Millman said.

Australia has 13,000 hectares of banana production, according to the Australian Banana Growers’ Council, and 94 per cent of it is located in the northeastern state of Queensland.

Millman’s banana-eating is so prolific, he’s received playful criticism on his technique. A video circulated late last year of Millman chowing down on the fruit. But he’s not stopping.

“I’m a nibbler,” Millman said. “I don’t like massive chunks because I feel like I have to chew so much, so yeah, I nibble a banana.

“There’s a video somewhere. There’s someone who was poking fun at me, that’s the Aussie way, isn’t it, a good bit of banter. If that’s one of my worst traits, then I can live with that.”

His banana eating aside, Millman has a reputation for being one of the fittest men on the ATP Tour. He memorably outlasted Roger Federer under similar conditions to make the 2018 US Open quarter-finals.

“It’s just important to go through your routines and know what works for you. I haven’t had too many problems in the past with my nutrition and how my body reacts in these conditions. You’re always going to feel it sometimes. But what you do is you control what you can control and that’s what I try to do,” Millman said on Sunday.

“Hopefully, you’ve done the hard work, and you look after the nutrition side, and you do the hard work off the court, and you do your physical work, and hopefully it combines for a successful season in summer, and in some of the trickiest conditions that we play throughout the year.”