Marcus Willis

the addict · Tennis legend

Marcus Willis

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

On the New York Empire team roster, Marcus is listed as 'substitute'.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Marcus Willis - the Kevin Pieterson of tennis, selling his services to the highest bidder.

christ · Futures qualifying

He's never going to be world number 1, and unlikely to be a regular at Slam events, so why not parlay his fleeting fame into money?

If you have difficulty winning, then finding a way to get paid for losing strikes me as admirably canny.

-- Edited by christ on Friday 14th of July 2017 09:27:38 AM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

We all have to make a living, so I've no issue with that, but I will have issue if he doesn't make a go of it this year, and wastes it like last year. It'll be harder for him now too as his Wimby points are off.

christ · Futures qualifying

Helen40 wrote:
We all have to make a living, so I've no issue with that, but I will have issue if he doesn't make a go of it this year, and wastes it like last year. It'll be harder for him now too as his Wimby points are off.

"Wastes"?

if he made £1 million opening supermarkets, I doubt that he would consider it a waste.

if his objective was to become famous through tennis, then he has done it.

if his objective was to make money through tennis, then he appears to have found a way to do it.

What precisely is being wasted?

I am not sure that it is his duty to thrash around the challenger - or even the ATP - circuit picking up a few thousands here and there for (say) losing finals - even if he wins the odd one or two.

Oakland2002 · All-time great

Wasted may be the wrong term purely from Marcus's perspective but opening supermarkets was probably not on top of LTA agenda when he was playing orange bowls, Eddie Herrs, nice little purely sight seeing trip to Melbourne and back, Florence, Roland Garos, New York. A JCH of 16 when not trying too hard. You don't win through Wimbledon Qualifying and the first round proper to get a date with Rodge on centre court without a game fit for purpose. My heart sinks at the opportunities missed.

I would think from an LTA perspective they would on reflection wish they had invested in someone else, wasted, no but only in the context of what doesn't kill you makes you stronger, although not alone in such behaviour I think it definitely shaped how the LTA have subsequently funded or not their young players.

Players with excellent attitudes find it hard to get anything. Perhaps Jay would have got something earlier? Perhaps Ryan would have got support.

"Duty to thrash around the challenger tour" ? Agreed he is 26 and his duty is to himself and his family to make a living and unless he really focuses on conditioning, hits the beetroot juice, maximises his strengths and mitigates the weaker parts of his game by playing a very selective schedule on favourable surfaces things are not going to happen. The time is now but realistically you are right he is better opening supermarkets and working the margins of tennis squeezing every last buck out of his glorious Wimbledon last year. Brace yourself for Marcus the movie in 3D, I understand Aidan Turner is in training for the lead role.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 15th of July 2017 08:52:45 AM

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Saturday 15th of July 2017 08:54:53 AM

christ · Futures qualifying

I agree from the LTA perspective his career may be seen as a waste, but I think that horse has bolted: short of winning a grand slam next year that waste has already occurred.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Sounds like Marcus is strutting his stuff in the World Team Tennis

www.wtt.com/news/2017-willis-preserves-empire-postseason-dreams-with-lasers-win

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

Obviously Marcus is not in great form. Beaten twice in singles at county cup last week by a full time coach Neil Bamford and Ryan Peniston.

lta.tournamentsoftware.com/sport/player.aspx

Spectator · All-time great

Neil Bamford was quite a fine player - not sure 'full-time coach' fully does him justice. And Ryan Peniston has a lot of potential. Which is not to deny the point ...

Born2WinTennis · Club Coach

Wow you are not wrong there, no disrespect intended. I've looked back at his British Tennis results and he's almost undefeated for 10 years, despite only playing in two competitions a year. Does this not typify the kind of person we loose from the competitions system. He basically only plays county cup, whereas he would be still good enough, aged 35 to regularly win British Tours and probably do okay in futures!

Spectator · All-time great

How lovely to have confirmation from someone with more patience than I (I've never looked up all his results) - thank you for that! Neil Bamford and James May were two of my favourite players back when I started in my tennis fandom (when tyrannosauri roamed the earth). And yes, from what CD has said, I suspect they're exactly the kind of players who in France would be encouraged to participate far more. But maybe they don't want to do so ... who knows.

On another note, Marcus Willis is one of Tennis's "Tennis Heroes": www.tennis.com/pro-game/2017/10/marcus-willis-heroes-tennis-channel-2017/69923/.

Elegant Point · Satellite level

County Cup is full of "full time" coaches who are still very good players and Neil Bamford a fantastic example.....Players with a wife and child to support need a "day job", so hard to make a living otherwise. Maybe need a system more like the French to stop them dropping out? But amazing for the younger players at County Cup to be " in the company of Marcus Willis and Bammy" quote unquote from a 17 year old

Ian1314 · Lower Club Player

I see that Marcus and others are playing in a charity football match this weekend:
Davis Cup XI including Dan Evans and Marcus Willis vs Leicester City Legends FC including Steve Walsh, Muzzy Izzet and Steve Guppy.
Sun 10th Dec 3.45pm ko, Aylestone Pk
Tickets on the gate £6 adults £3 kids
Proceeds to disability tennis in Leics