Willis’s fairy-tale run sets him up against fan Federer
ROGER Federer hailed Marcus Willis as one of the great Wimbledon fairy tales after the British qualifier set up a dream clash with the seventime champion.
Willis is ranked 706 in the world and just months ago the 25-year-old, who works as a coach to amateur players, was considering calling time on a professional career that appeared to be going nowhere.
But, persuaded to give tennis one last shot by his new girlfriend, Willis battled through to the main draw at Wimbledon via a series of qualifying matches before claiming a stunning firstround win over world number 54 Ricardas Berankis on Monday.
As if that was not enough to get Willis pinching himself, just hours later Federer defeated Guido Pella to give the unknown Brit an unthinkable meeting with the legendary Federer.
Asked if he had been following the story of Willis, who set up a crowd-sourcing website in a bid to fund his career, the 17-time Grand Slam champion said he was as spellbound as the rest of the All England Club.
“Yes, I have followed it actually before I even saw him in my section of the draw. It’s one of the best stories in a long time in our sport,” Federer said. “This is the kind of story we need. I think it’s great. I’m very excited to be playing him.”
Federer has rarely faced a player of Willis’s modest stature, but he admires the underdog’s commitment to the lost art of serving and volleying.
“I’m not sure I’ve played someone this low in the rankings,” he said. “It does happen sometimes with wild cards in some events but the guys who get wild cards are not usually coaching. They go to true professionals. This is definitely the first on this level.
“People will hear about it and naturally they are going to support him, rightfully so because it’s a very cool story.
“It’s going to make the match difficult. He plays well. It’s not like he couldn’t play or he wouldn’t be where he is.
“It’s going to be very interesting. Plus he is serve and volleying, which I love to see. He came up with some great shots.
“His game is perfectly suited to the conditions right now.”
Federer is used to having the adoration of crowds whenever he plays but he believes Willis deserves to take the plaudits when they meet. “If he gets the support that’s awesome.” Willis will pick up £50,000 for his Wimbledon heroics after just collecting $65 at a tournament in Tunisia in February.