I’m not the favourite… that’s great
THE SHADOWS over the court lengthened as the trees rustled in the chill wind and the crowd shivered. But Marcus Willis was not going to be blown off course.
Last year’s Wimbledon fairy-tale player is on the march again.
Willis, the no-hoper who fought through seven matches to eventually gallantly lose to Roger Federer in the second round at the All England Club last summer and electrify the tournament, battled his way through to the final round of qualifying again last night as he bludgeoned his way past fellow Brit Liam Broady 7-6, 6-7, 6-2.
The final points were played in increasing gloom in Roehampton that at one point had both players complaining about the light but as Broady, inset below, finally put a forehand long Willis, trademark bandanna still shining bright, roared out a triumphant: “Yesssss!!”
It had been a tough battle – but once again the 26-year-old is just one match away from the main draw. Today he will face Ukrainian Illya Marchenko – a player ranked 117 in the world.
Following Willis’s win there will be three British men in the final round of qualifying for the first time since 1999, with Alex Ward and Jay Clarke both also winning yesterday – and one British woman, Katy Dunne.
Willis saw three match points slip away from in the second set but recovered to cruise through the third with an early break – despite at one point stumbling and hurting his hip. He said: “I’m playing pretty well here so far and getting some good results, but I just try and take it a point at a time. My next round is very, very difficult, so I will give it everything I have got. It was dark out there even after the first set. I did say that, but it is the same for the opponent.
“We were both struggling with the light but you have to knuckle down. My aggression was good out there and my variety. Liam is very difficult to play against, so you have got to mix it up, you can’t always defend. I hit my forehand well under pressure and I went after my serve.
“I missed a few but I’m glad I stayed aggressive and glad to win. I missed a couple of NOVAK DJOKOVIC was named the second seed for Wimbledon yesterday and marked it with a most convincing win against a dangerous grasscourt opponent.
For a man battling the worst slump of his career, it was one of the better days in recent memory, and he explained why a smile had returned to his face.
“It is good not to be one of the favourites for Wimbledon,” he said, after completing a 6-4, 6-3 win over Vasek Pospisil at Eastbourne.
“I find it very liberating, and even as No 2 seed I don’t see myself as a potential champion.”
Pospisil is no mug on the green stuff as a committed serve and volleyer – and his thunderous delivery did for Andy Murray at Indian Wells earlier this year. But in the end Djokovic made it look easy as he laid down foundations for his challenge at the All England Club next week.
“I need to experience the tense moments of match play, to tune in mentally, physically and tactically,” he said.
“I wanted to be able to adjust, to get involved in match situations, so against an opponent with a grass-court game I was pleased how I played.
“Grass is so different at times; you have to be soft and gentle, but also very reactive.”
He will be hoping for some reaction from Andre Agassi, his superstar coach who watched the match on a special feed to his house in Las Vegas.
“I talk the match through with him on the phone,” Djokovic said. “He doesn’t get to London until the weekend so we keep communications open, sharing opinions and getting to know each other.
“We have connected very quickly, and I am not at a stage in my career when I need to take things a little more slowly. So he will help me.”
A break in each set was enough for Djokovic once he had shaken off some ring rust.
“It was a relief to get out and play,” he said. “Here, there is not so much pressure on me, I can walk around and people totally respect me. This is where I can do the work I need to do.”
Pospisil gave Djokovic a good workout, and agreed with the Serb’s prediction. “I don’t think he is favourite to win either,” said the Canadian.
“My pick now would be Roger Federer and Rafa Nadal. Having said that, there is no way Novak’s aura has diminished in the locker room. That will remain with him for the rest of his career.”
Djokovic is not the only Wimbledon contender trying to find some form.
While Federer, the third seed, is having little trouble on grass, having won at Halle for the ninth time, top seed Murray lost in the first round at Queen’s and is hoping the pain he felt in his hip on Monday proves nothing more than a scare, and Nadal admitted last week he is “not at the level he wants to compete”.
His words proved prophetic yesterday at the Aspall Classic at London’s Hurlingham Club as he lost 6-3, 6-2 to Tomas Berdych in just 59 minutes.
Grass can be different at times