Marcus Willis
Marcus Willis (born 9 October 1990) is a professional British tennis player. Willis made his tour debut at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships having qualified for the main draw.[1]
_(36142934026).jpg) Willis at the 2017 Wimbledon Championships | |
| Country (sports) |  |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 October 1990 Slough, England, UK |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) |
| Turned pro | 2007 |
| Plays | Left-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Coach | Matt Smith (2013–) |
| Prize money | $220,064 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 1–1 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 322 (16 June 2014) |
| Grand Slam Singles results | |
| Wimbledon | 2R (2016) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 2–1 |
| Career titles | 0 |
| Highest ranking | No. 209 (13 November 2017) |
| Current ranking | No. 1382 (16 March 2020) |
| Grand Slam Doubles results | |
| Wimbledon | 3R (2017) |
| Last updated on: 16 March 2020. | |
Early and personal life
Willis began playing tennis at the age of 9. His mother is a learning support assistant and his father is an accountant.[2] Willis attended St Paul's Primary School, Wokingham and The Forest School, Winnersh.[3] Willis is in a relationship with Jennifer Bate, an NHS dental surgeon and former beauty queen. Their daughter, Martha May Willis, was born in March 2017. Willis teaches at Downe House an independent girls school.
Junior career
Before the 2008 Australian Open began, Willis was sent home by the LTA after he had ignored a final warning about his slack attitude. The last straw came when he arrived late to a practice session, having missed the bus and forgotten his rackets.[4][5] Willis reached a high of No. 15 in the combined junior world rankings in September 2008.
Junior Slam results – Singles:
Australian Open: A (—)
French Open: 2R (2008)
Wimbledon: 3R (2007, 2008)
US Open: 2R (2008)
Junior Slam results – Doubles:
Australian Open: A (—)
French Open: 1R (2008)
Wimbledon: 2R (2007)
US Open: 2R (2008)
Senior career
2015
Willis won two Futures and reached the semifinals of four Futures events,[6] becoming world no 348 in July.[7] Managed & sponsored by A1 Pharmaceuticals from 2013-15 that lead to 7 futures singles titles during the sponsorship
2016: Wimbledon second round
The only success for Willis in the first five months of 2016 was qualifying for the Tunisia Futures F1 in January, and progressing to the quarterfinals,[8] where he won $356.[5]
His failure to defend the previous year's points led to his ranking falling to number 772 by the start of Wimbledon.[7]
Willis won six matches to qualify for the main draw of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships.[1] In the first round, Willis upset Ričardas Berankis, a player ranked more than 700 places above him, to set up a clash with seven-time champion Roger Federer.[9] Willis was defeated by Federer 6–0, 6–3, 6–4 on Centre Court in the second round, receiving a standing ovation nevertheless.[10]
The BBC held a vote for the best shot of the Wimbledon tournament,[11] and the winner was Willis lobbing Roger Federer.[12]
Injury prevented Willis from playing immediately after Wimbledon 2016, but he was given a wild card into qualifying for the Erste Bank Open 500 in Vienna over the weekend of October 22–23. He has also been invited to play Tie Break Tens at the same venue on Sunday 23 October, against Andy Murray, Dominic Thiem and Jo Wilfried Tsonga.[13]
His second tournament after Wimbledon was a Future in Kuwait which he won.
2017: Wimbledon doubles third round
Willis didn't play too many tournaments in the first half of 2017 due to injuries and becoming a father to his first child (a girl) but played in the Great Britain F1, F2 and F3, reaching the second round, semi-finals and finals respectively, winning $2283 overall. He then reached the quarter-finals of the U.S.A. F15 but lost in the first round of the Spain F14.[14] He then failed to qualify for the Challenger in Surbiton and then reached the second round of the Ilkley Challenger, losing to Sam Groth.[14]
At the 2017 Wimbledon Championships, Willis lost in the final round of qualifying to Illya Marchenko in straight sets, although Willis had been hindered by a knee injury he suffered against fellow Brit Liam Broady in the previous round. Since he failed to defend his points from last years Wimbledon his ranking is projected to drop below 500 in the world. [15]
In the Wimbledon doubles, he and partner Jay Clarke had been awarded a wild card for the main draw. In the opening round, they beat Jared Donaldson and Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan after coming back from two sets to love.[16] They caused a big surprise by defeating the defending champions and second seeds Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert in the next round, also in a five-setter.[17] Their run ended with a loss to Oliver Marach and Mate Pavić in the third round.[18]
2018
Willis missed Wimbledon in singles because he lost to Dan Evans in the pre-qualifying playoffs.[19]
After Wimbledon, he played for the San Diego Aviators in the World TeamTennis league,[20] where the team narrowly missed the WTT finals.
ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals
Singles: 16 (9–7)
|
|
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Oct 2008 | Great Britain F16, Glasgow | Futures | Hard (i) | |
2–6, 1–3 ret. |
| Win | 1–1 | Jan 2013 | Great Britain F1, Glasgow | Futures | Hard (i) | |
6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 1–2 | Mar 2013 | Great Britain F6, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard (i) | |
6–7(3–7), 6–7(1–7) |
| Win | 2–2 | Jul 2013 | Great Britain F14, Felixstowe | Futures | Grass | |
6–2, 6–4 |
| Loss | 2–3 | Aug 2013 | Great Britain F17, Wrexham | Futures | Hard | |
2–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 2–4 | Sep 2013 | Kuwait F2, Mishref | Futures | Hard |  |
6–3, 1–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 3–4 | Oct 2013 | Kuwait F3, Mishref | Futures | Hard |  |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 3–5 | Mar 2014 | Thailand F3, Nonthaburi | Futures | Hard |  |
2–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 4–5 | Mar 2014 | Great Britain F8, Tipton | Futures | Hard (i) |  |
7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
| Win | 5–5 | May 2014 | Great Britain F10, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | |
6–1, 6–3 |
| Loss | 5–6 | Sep 2014 | Great Britain F15, London | Futures | Hard |  |
6–2, 4–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 6–6 | Sep 2014 | Spain F27, Madrid | Futures | Hard | |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Win | 7–6 | May 2015 | Spain F11, Móstoles | Futures | Hard |  |
6–7(14–16), 6–3, 7–6(10–8) |
| Win | 8–6 | May 2015 | Egypt F20, Sharm El Sheikh | Futures | Hard | .svg.png){kind=small} |
7–5, 6–7(8–10), 7–5 |
| Win | 9–6 | Nov 2016 | Kuwait F3, Mishref | Futures | Hard |  |
6–3, 7–6(10–8) |
| Loss | 9–7 | Feb 2017 | Great Britain F3, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard (i) | |
5–7, 6–7(4–7) |
Doubles: 47 (28–19)
|
|
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 0–1 | Feb 2009 | France F2, Feucherolles | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
3–6, 4–6 |
| Win | 1–1 | May 2009 | Great Britain F6, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | |
|
6–7(3–7), 6–3, [14–12] |
| Loss | 1–2 | Jul 2009 | Great Britain F9, Frinton | Futures | Grass | |
|
7–6(7–5), 6–7(3–7), [6–10] |
| Loss | 1–3 | Aug 2009 | Belgium F2, Koksijde | Futures | Clay | |
 |
3–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 2–3 | Sep 2009 | Italy F28, Porto Torres | Futures | Hard | .svg.png){kind=small} |
 |
4–6, 6–3, [10–8] |
| Loss | 2–4 | Sep 2009 | Italy F29, Alghero | Futures | Hard | |
|
2–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 2–5 | May 2010 | Great Britain F6, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | |
|
3–6, 3–6 |
| Loss | 2–6 | May 2010 | Great Britain F7, Newcastle | Futures | Clay | |
|
1–6, 4–6 |
| Loss | 2–7 | Sep 2010 | Great Britain F14, Nottingham | Futures | Hard | |
|
5–7, 6–1, [11–13] |
| Win | 3–7 | Oct 2010 | Greece F3, Heraklion | Futures | Carpet | |
|
7–5, 5–7, [10–8] |
| Loss | 3–8 | Mar 2011 | Great Britain F3, Tipton | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
2–6, 2–6 |
| Win | 4–8 | Sep 2011 | Great Britain F14, Roehampton | Futures | Hard | |
|
6–3, 5–7, [10–5] |
| Win | 5–8 | Sep 2011 | Great Britain F15, Nottingham | Futures | Hard | |
|
6–4, 7–6(8–6) |
| Win | 6–8 | Jul 2012 | Great Britain F9, Manchester | Futures | Grass | |
|
6–2, 7–6(7–3) |
| Win | 7–8 | May 2013 | Great Britain F10, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | |
|
4–6, 6–4, [10–8] |
| Win | 8–8 | Aug 2013 | Great Britain F17, Wrexham | Futures | Hard | |
|
7–6(8–6), 6–3 |
| Win | 9–8 | Sep 2013 | Great Britain F18, Sheffield | Futures | Hard | |
|
6–1, 6–1 |
| Win | 10–8 | Sep 2013 | Great Britain F19, Roehampton | Futures | Hard | |
|
4–6, 6–4, [10–8] |
| Win | 11–8 | Sep 2013 | Kuwait F1, Mishref | Futures | Hard | |
  |
6–4, 7–5 |
| Loss | 11–9 | Sep 2013 | Kuwait F2, Mishref | Futures | Hard | |
 |
6–4, 3–6, [6–10] |
| Win | 12–9 | Oct 2013 | Kuwait F3, Mishref | Futures | Hard | |
 |
6–2, 6–2 |
| Win | 13–9 | Oct 2013 | Great Britain F22, Tipton | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
7–6(7–0), 6–2 |
| Win | 14–9 | Nov 2013 | Greece F20, Rethymno | Futures | Hard | |
  |
6–4, 7–6(7–5) |
| Win | 15–9 | Jan 2014 | Israel F1, Eilat | Futures | Hard | |
  |
6–3, 6–4 |
| Loss | 15–10 | Jan 2014 | Israel F2, Eilat | Futures | Hard | |
  |
3–6, 6–7(9–11) |
| Win | 16–10 | Jan 2014 | Israel F3, Eilat | Futures | Hard | |
|
6–3, 7–5 |
| Loss | 16–11 | Feb 2014 | Thailand F1, Nonthaburi | Futures | Hard | |
 |
6–3, 3–6, [8–10] |
| Loss | 16–12 | Feb 2014 | Thailand F2, Nonthaburi | Futures | Hard | |
|
4–6, 7–6(7–4), [7–10] |
| Win | 17–12 | Mar 2014 | Thailand F3, Nonthaburi | Futures | Hard | |
|
6–3, 7–5 |
| Win | 18–12 | Mar 2014 | Great Britain F8, Tipton | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
4–6, 7–6(7–5), [10–6] |
| Win | 19–12 | Apr 2014 | Great Britain F9, Bournemouth | Futures | Clay | |
.svg.png){kind=small} |
6–1, 7–5 |
| Win | 20–12 | May 2014 | Great Britain F10, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | |
|
7–6(7–3), 6–1 |
| Win | 21–12 | May 2014 | Great Britain F11, Newcastle | Futures | Clay | |
|
7–6(10–8), 6–1 |
| Loss | 21–13 | Aug 2014 | Spain F24, Pozoblanco | Futures | Hard | |
|
4–6, 5–7 |
| Loss | 0–1 | Nov 2014 | Charlottesville, United States | Challenger | Hard (i) | |
 |
6–3, 3–6, [2–10] |
| Win | 22–13 | Jan 2015 | Great Britain F2, Sunderland | Futures | Hard (i) | |
  |
6–3, 6–2 |
| Loss | 22–14 | Mar 2015 | Great Britain F5, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
6–7(3–7), 4–6 |
| Loss | 22–15 | May 2015 | Spain F11, Móstoles | Futures | Hard | |
|
3–6, 7–5, [5–10] |
| Win | 23–15 | May 2015 | Egypt F19, Sharm El Sheikh | Futures | Hard | |
  |
6–4, 6–4 |
| Win | 24–15 | May 2015 | Egypt F20, Sharm El Sheikh | Futures | Hard | |
|
6–1, 6–3 |
| Win | 25–15 | Jul 2015 | Great Britain F6, Frinton | Futures | Grass | |
|
6–4, 6–4 |
| Loss | 25–16 | Sep 2015 | Sweden F4, Falun | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
3–6, 5–7 |
| Win | 26–16 | Nov 2016 | Kuwait F3, Mishref | Futures | Hard | |
 |
6–1, 6–1 |
| Loss | 26–17 | Feb 2017 | Great Britain F3, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
6–3, 4–6, [6–10] |
| Win | 27–17 | Aug 2017 | Portugal F17, Sintra | Futures | Hard | |
|
6–1, 6–4 |
| Loss | 27–18 | Feb 2018 | Great Britain F1, Glasgow | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
3–6, 7–6(7–5), [6–10] |
| Win | 28–18 | Feb 2018 | Great Britain F3, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard (i) | |
|
6–2, 7–5 |
Performance timelines
Wins over top 10 players
Doubles
| # | Partner | Opponents | Rank | Tournament | Surface | Rd | Score | Willis Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | ||||||||
| 1. | |
|
4 7 |
Wimbledon, London, United Kingdom | Grass | 2R | 3–6, 6–1, 7–6(7–3), 5–7, 6–3 | 708 |
References
- "Wimbledon: Britain's world number 775 Marcus Willis qualifies for main draw". BBC Sport. 24 June 2016.
- "Marcus Willis". atpworldtour.com. Association of Tour Professionals. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
- "Wimbledon 2016: Who is Marcus Willis, the new British hero at SW19?". Telegraph. 27 June 2016.
- "A new hope for British tennis?". Independent. 23 January 2008.
- "Wimbledon: Roger Federer next for British sensation Marcus Willis after amazing victory". Independent. 27 July 2016.
- "Activity 2015". ATP World Tour. 31 December 2015.
- "Singles Rankings". ATP World Tour. 27 July 2015.
- "Tunisia Futures F1". ITF Tennis. 17 January 2016.
- "Wimbledon 2016: Marcus Willis stuns Ricardas Berankis, plays Federer next". BBC Sport. 27 June 2016.
- "Wimbledon 2016: Roger Federer beats British qualifier Marcus Willis". BBC Sport. 29 June 2016.
- "Vote: Wimbledon shot of the tournament". BBC Sport. 9 July 2016.
- "Wimbledon 2016: Willis' lob wins shot of the tournament". BBC Sport. 10 July 2016.
- "Tennis podcast: Marcus Willis: 'Can I beat Andy Murray? Over a ten-point tie-break, yes'". The Telegraph. Retrieved 2016-10-17.
- "Marcus Willis | Player Activity | ATP World Tour | Tennis". ATP World Tour. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
- "Wimbledon 2017: Marcus Willis & Jay Clarke lose final qualifying matches". BBC Sport. 2017-06-29. Retrieved 2017-06-29.
- https://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/more-sport/117679/willis-and-clarke-launch-resounding-comeback-to-seal-wimbledon-doubles-triumph.html?flip=true
- "Marcus Willis repeating Wimbledon fairytale - alongside doubles partner Jay Clarke". The Telegraph. 2017-07-08.
- "Marcus Willis departs with a smile on his face after winning Wimbledon hearts with Jay Clarke". The Telegraph. 2017-07-10.
- "Dan Evans edges out Marcus Willis in Wimbledon pre-qualifying". Sky Sports. 2018-06-22.
- "Marcus Willis Rounds Out Aviators Roster". San Diego Aviators. 2018-05-18.