Newly retired Marcus Willis opens up about his regrets during his career, gives an insight into where his love for tennis arose and talks about THAT lobbed shot against the Swiss great, Roger Federer, at Wimbledon.
Sat back in his chair, comfortable and ready. He looks up confidently with a smile on his face as he begins talking about where it all began.
“My badminton coach started doing mini tennis classes and I started them, my parents took me to Queens when I was younger and I was more passionate about tennis than badminton and so I had to pick one.
I was actually better at badminton than tennis, I had England trials for under 15s when I was 9, I was incredibly good at badminton but I don’t think I would’ve been anything judging by my build, most badminton players are a lot shorter and sharper, I just had a passion for tennis like you couldn’t imagine.
An obsessed kid. Sometimes I forget that because of how I felt at the end [of his career] but that’s what got me good because I don’t think many kids were doing that after school. I’d play in my room, volley a sponge ball against the wall, just an absolute nutcase for tennis.”
Willis’ dedication and hard work provided himself with an opportunity in the Australian Open at the age of just 17. Despite this, his chances were short-lived after being sent home due to discipline reasons but was this really the correct way to treat the youngster?
“I’m bias but I think sending a 17-year-old home for missing a bus or for being a bit of a dick as I was, I don’t think they really thought that one through, the effect it could have on someone when they’ve worked hard to be seeded at a Grand Slam.
I wasn’t out drinking or doing anything illegal, so I still don’t agree with it and hope they never do it to anyone else. It wasn’t a nice and something I never really understood, quite a severe punishment.
I feel I was made a scapegoat. I learnt to keep my mouth shut and some key life lessons, but I could have learnt that another way. It helped me push further but I feel it could have easily flattened me.
The behaviours we were all doing were being joked and laughed at by the coaches not stamped out, so I feel they wanted it to happen, I felt victimised which isn’t a nice feeling.
I learnt not to trust everyone. I was very aware about people in tennis from a young age which helped me make decisions as I didn’t trust many people.”
Despite this harsh life lesson, the British professional pushed beyond this and went on to face eight-time Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer on centre court.
Willis now sits forward with a smile on his face as he looks back on his surreal match against Wimbledon’s all-time leading winner.
“To get there in the first place was incredibly difficult, had a tough first round, to get to play Federer was the most incredible thing.
Its over very quickly, I didn’t pick up anything from the match. I wanted to do it again. No one’s really worked out how to beat him, whatever you do he has an answer for it but I wasn’t surprised how good he was.”
Whilst beaten by the Swiss great, Willis performed one of the greatest lobbed shots in Wimbledon history and was voted the best shot at the 2016 competition.
Letting out a little chuckle, he was humble.
“It was nice, I’d have liked a little trophy or something. It was a really nice feeling. There was a lot of fuss made over me, it’s how I play, I lob a lot and it’s what I find quite easy.
My mates would say I do that nearly every match but for people who don’t really know tennis they can appreciate it a lot more. I’ve hit shots that surprise me a lot more than that one. I’ve seen it around 1000 times now and still get tagged in it, it’s nice.”
After a great career, Willis decided to retire in 2021 and has taken up a coaching role.
“It’s vital, you need someone to tell you what to do and look up to. You’re shaping the youngsters’ careers and lives, it’s a very important job.
The tough thing to do is to keep them playing by keeping it fun and not a professional job at that age.
I think a lot of coaches pile too much pressure on them too early and the number of children I’ve seen give up when they’re 13,14 because it’s just too much, is quite sad. My target is to try and keep as many players in the game as possible.”
He may not know what the future holds but he can look back on his career knowing he did his best and played one of the all-time tennis greats.
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