Novak Djokovic. Andy Murray. Rafael Nadal. Marcus Willis.
That is the company the world No.772 Willis currently keeps in the eyes of Roger Federer, who is thrilled that he will be part of such a feel-good narrative at The Championships when he faces the British pre-qualifier in the second round.
“I think it's one of the best stories in a long time in our sport,” said the seven-time champion. “Other than Djokovic winning slams, Rafa doing a good comeback, and Murray playing great.
"This is the kind of stories we need in our sport. I think it's a great, great story. I'm very excited to be playing him actually. It's not something that I get to do very often. I'm looking forward to that."
These are moments that define lifetimes. Just weeks ago Willis was mulling a move to Philadelphia to start a new life as a coach. Tonight the 25-year-old is drinking in the biggest victory of his career, absorbing the reality that his second tour-level match will pit him against the most decorated Grand Slam champion in men’s tennis, on one of the greatest stages in the game.
“I didn't think I'd be answering these questions in a million years,” Willis responded when asked how his game measured up against that of the Swiss. “He's a complete player. He's a legend of the game.
"I've got a lot of respect for him, but I've got to go out and try to beat him. That has to go out the window.”
It is this unlikely intersection of two wildly divergent career trajectories that boggles Willis, fascinates Federer and enthralls those of us watching, reminded that even though dreams sometimes visit dark places, there are those that do come true.
According to girlfriend Jenny Bate, Willis would be in America if it wasn’t for her.
As a junior I walked past him. He was friendly, polite. But I've never had a conversation with him
“A week after knowing him, he said, ‘I’m going to America, I’ve given up on tennis’. My brother loves tennis, and he said to me this guy is good, he’s got it in him. So I told him this and said, ‘we believe in you, give it one more shot. It’s worth it. It’s worth anything’.”
Wherever it goes from here, the narrative of Willis’ run already rivals the 2004 film based at and named after Wimbledon, where a long-shot Briton on the verge of quitting the sport is given one last chance at glory.
Neither Willis nor Federer have seen the sports-based rom-com, but Willis does have a fine line in self-depricating quips. Asked how his game stacked up against that of the Swiss, he grinned and answered: “Is it just a little bit better than me?
Has he had spoken to Federer before? “I don't think he was at Tunisia F1 [Futures event] this year. So, no, I haven't. As a junior I walked past him. He was friendly, polite. But I've never had a conversation with him.”
Willis may admire Federer, but his idol is another Wimbledon champion.
“I watched Goran win in 2001. He's my favorite player, he shook my hand. It was a bit surreal. He was an inspiration to me, the year he won as a wild card, very unexpected.
“Keeps me going,” he added.
And then there’s Willis’s game. “Unorthodox,” is his own one-word description.
“I like to dictate on my serve. I like to change spins on both sides. Change the pace of the game. I played badminton, a bit of touch tennis before tennis, and it really helps your hand skills. I'm quite wristy. My forehand has been the main thing I've worked on. It's going really well at the moment.”
It’s enough to draw admiration from his next opponent. “He is serve and volleying, which I love to see,” Federer said. “He came up with some great, great shots. To beat a guy of Berankis' calibre in straight sets shows you how tough he is.
“I think his game is perfectly suited for these kind of conditions right now.”
In a year of sporting Cinderella stories, particularly in and involving English football, Wednesday’s second-round showdown promises to be a must-watch moment.
“I just met someone I played at the Beijing Olympics who was also ranked very low in the second round,” Federer added.
“This is definitely the first on this level. I've played a lot of very young players, maybe their rankings were very low. At the US Open, I remember playing, like, two or three guys. I've kind of been there.
“But this match is different. It's picked up on momentum. People will hear about it. People will know about it. Naturally they're going to support him ‑ rightfully so, because I think it's a very cool story myself. It's going to make the match difficult.”
