Federer joined in with some dazzling party pieces of his own but played largely within himself – smiling occasionally as Willis bathed in an unfamiliar spotlight. “I didn t make the draw but it s been fun playing against Marcus and now Dan”, said Federer, whose grass-court record stands at 150-22. “So that’s exciting for me if I’m playing like this”.
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“I did look up twice as I bounced the ball and saw Roger Federer, and thought, ‘Oh, haven’t seen this before, ‘” he said. It’s very misleading sometimes where you just think ‘well, this next week could be the breakthrough. “Marcus did that wonderfully”.
“I think my life will change a little bit, but I still want to keep my head down and keep carrying on to enjoy it”. Willis threw his arms up in elation when he finally did get on the board, the Briton continuously delighted by the pomp of playing on Centre Court.
“It sounds amusing”, he added, “but I’m disappointed to lose. I have to put that to the back of my mind and give it a good go tomorrow”.
Evans marched into round three for the first time at his home grand slam with the performance of his singles career to defeat Ukraine’s Alexandr Dolgopolov in straight sets.
A lot more incredible, it has to be said, than giving tennis lessons.
Willis certainly showed the talent he possesses, and to this point has not made the most of.
While Willis was visibly overjoyed simply to be mixing it in such exalted company, Evans travels to the showcourts in hope but also with a degree of expectation.
Here’s guessing that Willis’ opponents in local leagues do not wield a racket quite the way Federer can.
“He’s not a normal guy obviously, but he’s another tennis player who I have to prepare myself to just play another match”, said the 25-year-old from Solihull. “I was thinking, ‘This is definitely one of the matches I’ll remember, ‘ because I start forgetting some”. It happens. Do I have regrets?
Instead, he was lapping up the adulation of 15,000 fans who have been captivated by his story and giving arguably the greatest player of all time some uncomfortable moments before going down 6-0 6-3 6-4 in round two. Federer is looking for a record eighth Wimbledon title, while Djokovic is on course for a calendar-year Grand Slam – a feat that has not been done since Rod Laver in 1969. Only Rod Laver with 31 and Don Budge with 37 have won more in a row. “And hopefully I can do one step (further)”. I felt very well prepared. A Davis Cup hero in 2012, he qualified for the US Open in 2013 and then reached the third round only to nearly fall off the planet, to the point that by April previous year, he was down at No772, the same ranking held by Willis coming into this week.
Marcus Willis, a struggling pro from Slough, west of London, had chose to chuck the tour and accept a tennis teaching job in Philadelphia.
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The 25-year-old joined the coaching team at Warwick Boat Club in March and was set to move to America after being offered a job as a coach in Philadelphia.
