Roger Federer says he cannot wait to play Britain’s Wimbledon wonder Marcus Willis and hailed his progress as one of the greatest stories in the sport.
Willis, ranked 772nd in the world and coached by Huddersfield Lawn Tennis and Squash Club’s head man Matt Smith – who he has heaped praise upon – almost gave up tennis earlier this year and has been coaching rather than playing on tour.
But he won his seventh match in a row with a 6-3 6-3 6-4 victory over bemused Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis yesterday to earn his place against Federer.
On a normal Monday afternoon, Willis would have been coaching five-year-olds at Warwick Boat Club. Instead, he was beating the 54th best player in the world on a raucous Court 17 packed with his friends, family and Edgerton head coach Smith, who has coached him for the past two-and-a-half years.
The 25-year-old will now face 17-time grand slam champion Federer in round two and the Swiss was happy to shower praise on his unlikely opponent.
“I have followed it actually before I even saw him in my section of the draw,” Federer said.
“I heard more about it. I think it’s one of the best stories in a long time in our sport, other than Djokovic winning slams, you know, Rafa doing a good comeback, and Murray playing great.
“This is the kind of story we need in our sport. I think it’s a great, great story.
“I’m very excited to be playing him actually. It’s not something that I get to do very often. I’m looking forward to that.”
Willis could do little but shake his head at the improbability of it all, and no wonder.
A talented junior who quickly learned the harsh reality of life at the bottom of the professional ladder, Willis lacked the discipline and drive to fulfil his potential.
Three years ago he decided to change all that – and Smith has played a big role in bringing him through.
“I was a bit of a loser,” he said. “I was overweight. I was slaying off pints. I was just a loser. I just looked myself in the mirror, I said, ‘You’re better than this’.
“My coach worked very, very hard with me.
“A lot of people, my family, my close friends got behind me. It’s key. You can’t do this alone.”
Goran Ivanisevic, whose 2001 final Willis watched on tape after school, nervously living every last dramatic moment with his hero, shook his hand to congratulate him.
Now Willis will play seven-time Wimbledon champion Federer, probably on Centre Court.
Asked if he had ever spoken to the Swiss, Willis said with a smile: “I don’t think he was at Tunisia F1 this year.”
That was a reference to the only previous tournament Willis played this year, on the lowly Futures Tour.
He won two matches and then withdrew, taking home 292 US dollars in prize money.
For his victory over Berankis, Willis will earn a minimum of £50,000, not far off his whole career earnings until now.
“There’s not much going on in my head right now,” he said.
“It’s a bit of a blur. But it’s all positive. It’s got a little bit out of hand.”
Federer booked his own place in the second round by beating Argentina’s Guido Pella 7-6 (7/5) 7-6 (7/3) 6-3.
