TENNIS NEWS FROM WIMBLEDON, ROGER FEDERER TO PLAY BRITAIN’S MARCUS WILLIS, A PLAYER RANKED 772 IN THE WORLD WHO TEACHES TENNIS

Written by: Staff on 28th June 2016

Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Guido Pella of Argentina during their first round match of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 27 June 2016 EPA/GERRY PENNY

epa05394862 Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Guido Pella of Argentina during their first round match of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, in London, Britain, 27 June 2016 EPA/GERRY PENNY EDITORIAL USE ONLY/NO COMMERCIAL SALES |

A win at #Wimbledon and a hug from mum… #MarcusWillis – Photo by Wimbledon via Instagram.

Very Low Ranked Player To Play Federer At Wimbledon

Wimbledon has produced many tales of the unexpected before but the prospect of Britain’s Marcus Willis, the world’s 772nd ranked player who, by his own admission was a loser in life just a few months ago, is now preparing to face seven times champion Roger Federer.

Willis, once regarded as the bad boy of British tennis after being sent home from the Australian Open in disgrace eight years ago and having all his funding from the Lawn Tennis Association withdrawn, battled through pre-qualifying and the three rounds of qualifying to earn a first ever place in Wimbledon’s main draw.

Then the player who earns a living coaching all kinds of players, from children to elderly ladies at Warwick Boat Club and plays league tennis in France and Germany, overcame a rankings deficit of 718 places to beat Lithuania’s Ricardas Berankis 6-3,6-3,6-4.

“It’s surreal,” Willis said. “Six months ago, I was struggling to get out of bed in the morning, now I get to play on a stadium court. This is what I dreamed of when I was younger.

“I love watching tennis and I’ve watched Federer a lot. He’s a complete player, a legend of the game. But I’m going to give everything and try and win the match.”

A recurrent hamstring injury meant Willis was preparing to give up any aspirations about making the grade at tennis late last year. But a new girlfriend he met at an Ellie Golding concert persuaded the 25 year-old to give tennis another try.

Now even Federer is fascinated by the tale of his upcoming second round opponent. “I was very intrigued about his story,” said the third seeded Swiss. “It is what our sport needs, where guys come from nowhere. We have had a hard time producing those players and I am really looking forward to playing him. I couldn’t be more excited. It is a huge moment for him but I am on the way back as well.”

Willis became the lowest-ranked qualifier to win a match in a grand slam since 1988 and only sneaked his way into pre-qualifying because fellow-Briton Scott Clayton could not get back from a tournament in Turkey in time to take his place in the draw.

Speaking on his transition, Willis said: “I was a bit of a loser. I was overweight. I was seeing off pints (of beer). One day I just looked myself in the mirror and said: “You’re better than this.”