Marcus Willis
Marcus Willis is a professional British tennis player. Willis made his tour debut at the 2016 Wimbledon Championships having qualified for the main draw.
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. Willis attended St Paul's Primary School, Wokingham and The Forest School, Winnersh. 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.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
Wimbledon: 3R
US Open: 2R
Junior Slam results – Doubles:
Australian Open: A
French Open: 1R
Wimbledon: 2R
US Open: 2R
Senior career
2015
Willis won two Futures and reached the semifinals of four Futures events, becoming world no 348 in July. Managed & sponsored by A1 Pharmaceuticals from 2013-15 that lead to 7 futures singles titles during the sponsorship2016: 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, where he won $356.His failure to defend the previous year's points led to his ranking falling to number 772 by the start of Wimbledon.
Willis won six matches to qualify for the main draw of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships. 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. Willis was defeated by Federer 6-0, 6-3, 6-4 on Centre Court in the second round, receiving a standing ovation nevertheless.
The BBC held a vote for the best shot of the Wimbledon tournament, and the winner was Willis lobbing Roger Federer.
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.
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 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. He then failed to qualify for the Challenger in Surbiton and then reached the second round of the Ilkley Challenger, losing to Sam Groth.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.
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. 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. Their run ended with a loss to Oliver Marach and Mate Pavić in the third round.
2018
Willis missed Wimbledon in singles because he lost to Dan Evans in the pre-qualifying playoffs.After Wimbledon, he played for the San Diego Aviators in the World TeamTennis league, 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 | Great Britain F16, Glasgow | Futures | Hard |  Dan Evans | 2–6, 1–3 ret. | |
| Win | 1–1 | Great Britain F1, Glasgow | Futures | Hard | Josh Goodall | 6–4, 6–4 | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Great Britain F6, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard | Dan Evans | 6–7, 6–7 | |
| Win | 2–2 | Great Britain F14, Felixstowe | Futures | Grass | Neil Pauffley | 6–2, 6–4 | |
| Loss | 2–3 | Great Britain F17, Wrexham | Futures | Hard | Daniel Cox | 2–6, 3–6 | |
| Loss | 2–4 | Kuwait F2, Mishref | Futures | Hard |  Ivo Klec | 6–3, 1–6, 4–6 | |
| Win | 3–4 | Kuwait F3, Mishref | Futures | Hard |  Tak Khunn Wang | 6–3, 6–2 | |
| Loss | 3–5 | Thailand F3, Nonthaburi | Futures | Hard |  Chung Hyeon | 2–6, 4–6 | |
| Win | 4–5 | Great Britain F8, Tipton | Futures | Hard |  Sam Barry | 7–6, 6–4 | |
| Win | 5–5 | Great Britain F10, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | Neil Pauffley | 6–1, 6–3 | |
| Loss | 5–6 | Great Britain F15, London | Futures | Hard |  Frederik Nielsen | 6–2, 4–6, 4–6 | |
| Win | 6–6 | Spain F27, Madrid | Futures | Hard | Mick Lescure | 6–3, 6–2 | |
| Win | 7–6 | Spain F11, Móstoles | Futures | Hard |  Jorge Hernando-Ruano | 6–7, 6–3, 7–6 | |
| Win | 8–6 | Egypt F20, Sharm El Sheikh | Futures | Hard |  Julien Dubail | 7–5, 6–7, 7–5 | |
| Win | 9–6 | Kuwait F3, Mishref | Futures | Hard |  Daniel Altmaier | 6–3, 7–6 | |
| Loss | 9–7 | Great Britain F3, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard | Oscar Otte | 5–7, 6–7 |
Doubles: 47 (28–19)
| Result | W–L | Date | Tournament | Tier | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
| Loss | 0–1 | France F2, Feucherolles | Futures | Hard | Dan Evans | Olivier Charroin Nicolas Tourte | 3–6, 4–6 | |
| Win | 1–1 | Great Britain F6, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | Daniel Smethurst | Richard Gabb Ashley Hewitt | 6–7, 6–3, | |
| Loss | 1–2 | Great Britain F9, Frinton | Futures | Grass | Neil Pauffley | Tristan Farron-Mahon Colin O'Brien | 7–6, 6–7, | |
| Loss | 1–3 | Belgium F2, Koksijde | Futures | Clay | Alexander Ward |  Rabie Chaki Frederic De Fays | 3–6, 2–6 | |
| Win | 2–3 | Italy F28, Porto Torres | Futures | Hard |  Vasek Pospisil |  Alessandro Giannessi Francesco Piccari | 4–6, 6–3, | |
| Loss | 2–4 | Italy F29, Alghero | Futures | Hard | Vasek Pospisil | Federico Gaio Alessandro Giannessi | 2–6, 5–7 | |
| Loss | 2–5 | Great Britain F6, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | Barry King | James Cluskey Colin O'Brien | 3–6, 3–6 | |
| Loss | 2–6 | Great Britain F7, Newcastle | Futures | Clay | Maniel Bains | Ignacio Coll Riudavets Gerard Granollers | 1–6, 4–6 | |
| Loss | 2–7 | Great Britain F14, Nottingham | Futures | Hard | Sean Thornley | Lewis Burton Dan Evans | 5–7, 6–1, | |
| Win | 3–7 | Greece F3, Heraklion | Futures | Carpet | Daniel Glancy | Sam Barry Colin O'Brien | 7–5, 5–7, | |
| Loss | 3–8 | Great Britain F3, Tipton | Futures | Hard | Miles Bugby | Chris Eaton Josh Goodall | 2–6, 2–6 | |
| Win | 4–8 | Great Britain F14, Roehampton | Futures | Hard | Josh Goodall | Lewis Burton James Marsalek | 6–3, 5–7, | |
| Win | 5–8 | Great Britain F15, Nottingham | Futures | Hard | Josh Goodall | David Rice Sean Thornley | 6–4, 7–6 | |
| Win | 6–8 | Great Britain F9, Manchester | Futures | Grass | Josh Goodall | Tom Burn Dan Evans | 6–2, 7–6 | |
| Win | 7–8 | Great Britain F10, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | Matthew Short | Richard Gabb Jonny O'Mara | 4–6, 6–4, | |
| Win | 8–8 | Great Britain F17, Wrexham | Futures | Hard | George Coupland | Liam Broady Joshua Ward-Hibbert | 7–6, 6–3 | |
| Win | 9–8 | Great Britain F18, Sheffield | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton | Richard Bloomfield Daniel Cox | 6–1, 6–1 | |
| Win | 10–8 | Great Britain F19, Roehampton | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton | Edward Corrie Joshua Ward-Hibbert | 4–6, 6–4, | |
| Win | 11–8 | Kuwait F1, Mishref | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Patrick Davidson Saketh Myneni | 6–4, 7–5 | |
| Loss | 11–9 | Kuwait F2, Mishref | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Ruan Roelofse Tak Khunn Wang | 6–4, 3–6, | |
| Win | 12–9 | Kuwait F3, Mishref | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Thomas Statzberger Tristan-Samuel Weissborn | 6–2, 6–2 | |
| Win | 13–9 | Great Britain F22, Tipton | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton | Graeme Dyce Calum Gee | 7–6, 6–2 | |
| Win | 14–9 | Greece F20, Rethymno | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Nikola Čačić Alexandros Jakupovic | 6–4, 7–6 | |
| Win | 15–9 | Israel F1, Eilat | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Shonigmatjon Shofayziyev Anton Zaitcev | 6–3, 6–4 | |
| Loss | 15–10 | Israel F2, Eilat | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Huang Liang-chi Amir Weintraub | 3–6, 6–7 | |
| Win | 16–10 | Israel F3, Eilat | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton | Claudio Grassi Amir Weintraub | 6–3, 7–5 | |
| Loss | 16–11 | Thailand F1, Nonthaburi | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Yuichi Ito Hiroki Kondo | 6–3, 3–6, | |
| Loss | 16–12 | Thailand F2, Nonthaburi | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton | Chung Hyeon Nam Ji-sung | 4–6, 7–6, | |
| Win | 17–12 | Thailand F3, Nonthaburi | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton | Chung Hyeon Nam Ji-sung | 6–3, 7–5 | |
| Win | 18–12 | Great Britain F8, Tipton | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton | David Rice Sean Thornley | 4–6, 7–6, | |
| Win | 19–12 | Great Britain F9, Bournemouth | Futures | Clay | Lewis Burton |  Jake Eames Brydan Klein | 6–1, 7–5 | |
| Win | 20–12 | Great Britain F10, Edinburgh | Futures | Clay | Jonny O'Mara | Maverick Banes Gavin van Peperzeel | 7–6, 6–1 | |
| Win | 21–12 | Great Britain F11, Newcastle | Futures | Clay | Jonny O'Mara | Maverick Banes Gavin van Peperzeel | 7–6, 6–1 | |
| Loss | 21–13 | Spain F24, Pozoblanco | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton | Edward Corrie David Rice | 4–6, 5–7 | |
| Loss | 0–1 | 2014 Charlottesville Men's Pro Challenger – Doubles| | Charlottesville, United States | Challenger | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Treat Huey Frederik Nielsen | 6–3, 3–6, |
| Win | 22–13 | Great Britain F2, Sunderland | Futures | Hard | Lewis Burton |  Isak Arvidsson Micke Kontinen | 6–3, 6–2 | |
| Loss | 22–14 | Great Britain F5, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard | Sean Thornley | Luke Bambridge Scott Clayton | 6–7, 4–6 | |
| Loss | 22–15 | Spain F11, Móstoles | Futures | Hard | José Checa-Calvo | Juan-Samuel Arauzo Ivan Arenas-Gualda | 3–6, 7–5, | |
| Win | 23–15 | Egypt F19, Sharm El Sheikh | Futures | Hard | Daniel Smethurst |  Karim-Mohamed Maamoun Issam Haitham Taweel | 6–4, 6–4 | |
| Win | 24–15 | Egypt F20, Sharm El Sheikh | Futures | Hard | Daniel Smethurst | Karim Hossam Issam Haitham Taweel | 6–1, 6–3 | |
| Win | 25–15 | Great Britain F6, Frinton | Futures | Grass | Daniel Smethurst | Evan Hoyt Bradley Mousley | 6–4, 6–4 | |
| Loss | 25–16 | Sweden F4, Falun | Futures | Hard | James Marsalek | David O'Hare Joe Salisbury | 3–6, 5–7 | |
| Win | 26–16 | Kuwait F3, Mishref | Futures | Hard | Daniel Altmaier |  Roy Sarut De Valk Ronan Joncour | 6–1, 6–1 | |
| Loss | 26–17 | Great Britain F3, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard | Jack Molloy | Scott Clayton Luke Johnson | 6–3, 4–6, | |
| Win | 27–17 | Portugal F17, Sintra | Futures | Hard | Edward Corrie | Yanais Laurent Maxime Tchoutakian | 6–1, 6–4 | |
| Loss | 27–18 | Great Britain F1, Glasgow | Futures | Hard | Neil Pauffley | Matthias Haim Jakob Sude | 3–6, 7–6, | |
| Win | 28–18 | Great Britain F3, Shrewsbury | Futures | Hard | Scott Clayton | Harri Heliövaara Frederik Nielsen | 6–2, 7–5 |