Lobbing Federer changed his life – the cult hero back at Wimbledon

By

BBC Sport tennis news reporter at Wimbledon

Marcus Willis is not one for revelling in nostalgia.

But given the 35-year-old Briton is best known for lobbing Roger Federer on Centre Court, he knows his 2016 Wimbledon exploits will follow him for the rest of his life.

Ten years ago, Willis endeared himself to the nation with a heart-warming run from qualifying to a second-round tie against one of the greatest players of all time.

While the world number 772 lost 6-0 6-3 6-4, he won the BBC's Shot of the Tournament for picking off Federer with a delicious shot, and ensured he would forever be a Wimbledon cult hero.

"People say, did you enjoy every moment? No, I was playing a tennis match. It's not always fun," Willis, who begins his Wimbledon men's doubles campaign on Wednesday, told BBC Sport.

"I'm very grateful for the chance to have been on Centre Court - that's wild - but I wanted to win on Centre Court.

"It's strange looking back because it feels like another lifetime."

Federer was a multi-millionaire icon. Willis had earned £220 that year and had to be persuaded by his girlfriend to keep playing professionally.

Federer treated his body as a temple. Willis called himself 'Cartman' after the South Park character before cutting out booze and junk food.

The Swiss superstar had the 'Fed Heads' supporting him. The British outsider had the 'Willbombers' in his corner.

It was a contrasting and colourful match-up which led to Willis becoming a national icon - at least for a couple of weeks.

The morning after losing to Federer, an aching Willis limped to the shower at 4:30am to get ready for an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain.

More appearances on national television followed, plus countless interview requests. Then things slowed down.

"It was life-changing in the short term. But you know how fickle everything is," Willis said.

"You have your phone blowing up and loads of opportunities, then it moves on to someone else.

"You have to ride with it, but you learn a lot. Looking back now, I'm a lot more closed off."

Willis says his career will inevitably be defined by the Federer experience, but insists his life is not. And, given his extraordinary journey, it is easy to understand why.

Willis almost left the sport a few months before he played 20-time major champion Federer. He did quit in 2018 due to injuries and the toll they were taking on his mental health.

In 2020, he worked for his cousin's bricklaying business to earn money during the coronavirus pandemic.

"That was nice, it was freeing. Some of the conversations are interesting," Willis recalled.

"What I loved about it was how whenever the clock hits 12pm or 12:30pm, you're stopping for a tea and your lunch. It's religious. They stop on the dot.

"It was an incredible experience. But you wouldn't want me trying to build your house, let's put it that way. I was just trying to earn some money and spend time with my cousin."

A couple of years later, Willis was back on the court. He was playing exhibition events when a family friend offered to finance a professional comeback.

"People say 'you're still good', but you know the reality of becoming a player," Willis said.

"It's not just being good. It's having the money, it's staying injury-free, it's travelling the world, not seeing your kids grow up properly. That's what people don't understand sometimes.

"I hadn't thought about it. I went home and saw my wife [Jenny] – she was more keen than I was at the time.

"She said go and do it, you get one chance. And now here I am."

A decade on from facing Federer, Willis returns to the All England Club after a reinvention as a doubles player.

On Wednesday, Willis and partner David Stevenson start their SW19 campaign against British former world number one Joe Salisbury and Uruguay's Ariel Behar.

Willis, who is 64th in the world rankings, says he treats his profession more seriously than he ever has and wants to play as long as his body allows him.

A more relaxed lifestyle off court helps him deal with the mental side of the sport.

The father-of-four is constantly ferrying the kids - aged between seven and 13 - to endless activities including taekwondo, swimming and drumming, as well helping them figure out their homework.

He has started his own podcast - called 'What You Talking About Willis?' in homage to 1980s American sitcom Diff'rent Strokes - and still tries to watch his beloved Liverpool as often as possible.

"Since I came back into tennis, it's been less dramatic," Willis added.

"I just try and improve and be the best tennis player, the best husband, the best dad I can.

"It's very different to when I was playing singles back then against Federer, so in terms of its relevance now, I don't think about it too much.

"But I guess that experience has probably helped shape who I am."