Despite Loss, Marcus Willis Gives Wimbledon Its Feel-Good Storyline
Roger Federer is accustomed to receiving a king's welcome in whatever country he graces with his presence. He's the perpetual sentimental favorite when he plays, with heavy support always behind him.
Well, at least until his second-round match at Wimbledon. On one unforgettable day, Federer played the role of spoiler inside a roof-enabled Centre Court. The home crowd cheered louder for a man few recognized several days earlier: Marcus Willis.
His redemption is one of the most inspiring stories to hit tennis in ages.
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After the England soccer team's shocking loss to Iceland at Euro 2016 and political turmoil as a result of Brexit, turbulence engulfed the United Kingdom in the days prior to the pair's meeting.
Who knew the British Rocky Balboa would swoop in to deliver the ultimate morale boost?
Actually, comparing Willis, 25, to the titular character in Sylvester Stallone's Rocky series is understating his epic Cinderella tale. Even Hollywood might not be able to script something this fantastic.
Once a talented (but underperforming) junior, Willis struggled with his commitment to the game. He favored the night life over training, to the point where the British Lawn Tennis Association removed Willis from the 2008 Australian Open.
Compatriot Liam Broady described him as a former "social butterfly" in an interview with the Telegraph's Daniel Schofield, relaying tales of Willis drinking Pepsi and eating Snickers during matches.
As his weight ballooned, his results went in the opposite direction. Years went by with little to no success.
Things changed in 2013 when he hooked up with a coach—Matt Smith—who helped steer him in the right direction.
Willis began training harder than ever before, both on and off the court. Once nicknamed "Cartman" by fans for his husky physique, he wound up shedding 55 pounds. The partying lessened and his fitness improved dramatically as he tirelessly worked for another shot at a pro career.
He put in the hard yards at Challenger tournaments, using crowdfunding to finance his tennis and support a mission of playing Wimbledon in 2015. But a knee injury derailed those dreams. A cash-strapped and debt-ridden Willis, who still lives with his parents, started giving lessons at Warwick Boat Club to earn money on the side and pay back loans.
"Why we love sports: Marcus Willis, playing Federer at Wimbledon today, has a day job of coaching tennis at a boat club for $40 an hour
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) June 29, 2016"
In January, Willis played a low-tier event in Tunisia, facing guys barely ranked in the Top 1,000. He made just $356 for that event. With the money not rolling in, he came close to quitting tennis for good.
“I was adamant I was going to go to America to coach,” Willis told the New York Times' Ben Rothenberg. “I had called up someone about the visa—and then I met a girl. She basically told me I was an idiot and that I should keep going, and I’m very grateful for that.”
You know those movies where a down-and-out athlete faces a crossroads, yet perseveres because of the support of a soulmate? It's standard fare at the cinema, but for Willis it's a reality.
Encouraged by his girlfriend Jennifer Bate, Willis decided not to throw in the towel. He'd chase his white whale—Wimbledon—one more time.
He entered German and French leagues to stay active. Despite his lowly ranking of 775th in the world, Willis eventually earned a spot in pre-qualifying. That meant he'd have to win three matches just to enter regular qualifying at the All England Club.
Improbably, Willis ran the table, going 6-0 through qualifying to reach the main draw at Wimbledon.
A few months prior, he nearly gave up the sport he loved. Now Willis had a chance to play at tennis' most hallowed event.
His journey to simply qualify for Wimbledon is stirring enough. Willis, however, wasn’t ready for the ride to end. The plucky underdog further escalated his darling status, toppling 54th-ranked Ricardas Berankis for a 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 win that sent tremors around SW19.
Saving 19 of the 20 break points he faced in that match, Willis’ fighting spirit not only carried him to the finish line: It engulfed the crowd around him. Met with thunderous applause after every point he won, Willis walked off the court like a conquering hero.
"It's quite a nice life, isn't it, really?” ESPN’s Nicolas Atkin quoted him as saying afterwards. “I haven't experienced this. Goran [Ivanisevic] just came around and shook my hand. He's my hero. He was an inspiration to me, the year he won as a wild card [in 2001]."
For his reward, Willis found himself on the opposite side of the net as the Swiss Maestro Federer. Just a bit of a step up from the club-level players he hits with.
Just look at this tale of the tape.
"lol at espn comparing homes #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/N0ifvjDWK9
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) June 29, 2016"
Walking onto the court wearing a Federer shirt, Willis soaked in the moment and showed the crowd he enjoyed it every bit as much as they did. His everyman persona shone through, even bringing a smile to the face of his legendary opponent.
Federer ultimately breezed to a 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 win in 84 minutes. Yet the score doesn't do Willis justice. After dropping the first seven games to begin the match, he finally got on the board in the second set. And the fans roared.
Notching that one next to his name seemed like a monumental victory in its own right. Against arguably the sport's greatest player on his favorite court, the blue-collar Willis showed he belonged.
Federer took notice.
"This story is gold," he told the New York Times' Christopher Clarey after the match. "I just hope the press respects his situation. It’s easy now to just use it, chew it up and then throw it all away. He’s got a life after this. He’s got a career after this. He definitely made the most of it."
Rocked by betting scandals and Maria Sharapova’s drug-related ban in the last few months, tennis needed a feel-good story to restore some positive vibes. Willis delivered exactly that with his fairytale saga.
His story is one that goes beyond sports. For anyone who’s ever been in a rut and experienced doubts about where life is taking them, Willis shows the power of not giving up and continuing to chase your goals; it’s never too late for a reinvention.
As he exits Wimbledon, Willis can use the earnings he accrued to continue pursuing a full-time stay on the ATP Tour. By advancing to the second round, windows will open for him to play more tournaments in the future.
Time for him to clear his coaching calendar.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report.
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