Roger Federer came back from 8-4 down to win a fifth-set tiebreak against John Millman at the Australian Open and then apologised to the home favourite.

World No 3 Federer knows exactly what it feels like to have his heart broken in such a cruel fashion.

The Swiss star was on the receiving end when Novak Djokovic won their Wimbledon final clash last summer.

Millman more than matched Federer for the duration of their four-hour battle on Rod Laver Arena.

But a brief moment of magic right at the death ensured it was Federer who progressed to the fourth round.

The pair shared an exhausted embrace at the net and shook hands following the grueling showdown which finished just before 1am local time in Melbourne (2pm GMT).

“Like you said, he’s got a great attitude, and that’s why I mumbled something to him at the net,” Federer revealed.

“Just saying, ‘I have so much respect for you, and it’s such a pity, I’m so sorry, but well played’, and all that stuff, because I really feel that way for John.”

However, Millman could not remember the exchange when asked in his press conference.

“To be honest with you, I’m not trying to stonewall you here, I actually don’t remember,” he said.

“And I just think he’s just so, so tough from the baseline. He’s got sort of good speed on the backhand, on the forehand.

“The way he hits it makes it, for me, unsure if I should pull the trigger or I shouldn’t. Is it there to be hit or not?

“Every time I get a ball, I’m in two ways, because I have the option to do that with my game, but then he covers the court very well.

“Because he hits it hard enough, maybe it’s harder for me to find angle.

“I think the biggest problem for me was just I wasn’t able to get – I was not returning poorly, per se. I was just not getting into those neutral rallies, finding the ways to unlock him. That’s his credit. He’s a great player.”