Members Login
Username 
 
Password 
    Remember Me  
Link Back -> Andrew Murray message board -> Individual Player Threads -> Marcus Willis
Post Info TOPIC: Marcus Willis
christ


Futures level

Status: Offline
Posts: 1814
Date:
Marcus Willis
Permalink  

Don't misunderstand me: I think the Mr Willis has done very well in the game of life, he simply didn't achieve "his tennis potential" as far as us onlookers are concerned. If I were him I would probably be happier with the life he has than the life of a perennially peripatetic top-100 tennis player. I am reminded of the famous "where did it all go wrong George" joke.

I don't know if the LTA structure is right or not, but I do know that the head is more important than physical ability if a player is to parlay that ability into making it to the highest echelons, and I am not convinced that the head can be (wholly) taught.

As I noted with Mr Evans, it seems that about four years ago a switch was flicked, and he actually started to string together results that matched his talent: finding the means to flick that switch has almost nothing to do with tennis. In my view.

__________________
Bob in Spain


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 19391
Date:
Permalink  

Great podcast with Marcus and Soto tennis.

Lovely story that I have never heard before about the Berankis match and how Fed was watching in the locker room and predicted that Marcus would win because Berankis could ope with the slice into his forehand. (Story starts at 52 mins 40 secs)

podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/control-the-controllables/id1511047964



__________________
Mark1968


Intermediate Club Player

Status: Offline
Posts: 329
Date:
Permalink  

I agree that the LTA have a lot to answer for, other players such as Andy Murray who blamed them for "ruining" his brother as a tennis player have criticised them and now they are hiding behind the Covid hoax to not put on any futures events. The British Tour is all well and good but events with world ranking points are the only ones that really matter. I wonder how many loafers at the LTA are sitting on their backsides taking huge salaries at the moment while players struggle.

However regarding Marcus he was his own worse enemy. Turning up at a tournament without his rackets, being out of shape for some of his career etc, I could go on. Over the years he had plenty of sponsorship and LTA funding and took part in hundreds of tournaments. The man, who more or less by his own admission did not even have a forehand, was nowhere near as good as some of you think and his career reflects this.

Some need to face reality, we live in an excuse culture in the UK, it was down to Marcus that he did not do better, he just wasn't good enough, not everybody is good enough to be a top 100 player, that is reality.

I wish him all the best moving forward and if he does get into coaching you might see him in the odd doubles occasionally like Morgan Phillips.

__________________
christ


Futures level

Status: Offline
Posts: 1814
Date:
Permalink  

Mark1968 wrote:

... the Covid hoax ...

 Interesting. What hoax was this?



__________________
Oakland2002


All-time great

Status: Offline
Posts: 5134
Date:
Permalink  

christ wrote:
Mark1968 wrote:

... the Covid hoax ...

 Interesting. What hoax was this?

 The one that means you just ignore the rest of the post and probably all future ones and move on. Nothing to discuss here. 



__________________
Mark1968


Intermediate Club Player

Status: Offline
Posts: 329
Date:
Permalink  

Oakland2002 wrote:
christ wrote:
Mark1968 wrote:

... the Covid hoax ...

 Interesting. What hoax was this?

 The one that means you just ignore the rest of the post and probably all future ones and move on. Nothing to discuss here. 

 When I read something like this, the expression "It is easier to fool someone than convince them they have been fooled", comes to mind. 



__________________
Madadman


Masters Series Champion

Status: Offline
Posts: 3795
Date:
Permalink  

I notice that Marcus has also been playing some touch tennis and won a tournament in Spain last weekend.
www.touchtennis.com/gb/marcus-willis-512.php

__________________
Coup Droit


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 55240
Date:
Permalink  

Madadman wrote:

I notice that Marcus has also been playing some touch tennis and won a tournament in Spain last weekend.
www.touchtennis.com/gb/marcus-willis-512.php

 Billiant link, Madadman - thanks - made me laugh biggrin

 



__________________
Priesty


Challenger level

Status: Offline
Posts: 2562
Date:
Permalink  

Interesting feature about Marcus and his comeback in doubles on the ATP tour website -

www.atptour.com/en/news/marcus-willis-march-2023-feature

__________________
Coup Droit


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 55240
Date:
Permalink  

And, at age 33, Marcus has finally broken into the top-100 of doubles

Up 12 places to WR 95, thanks to his title last week

Gary, where are you? Do you still follow him? Well done on making his career possible at an early age and all the support. Bet it must have been frustrating at times

Marcus, you're a great tennis story - keep it going !

PS There's also another thread for Marcus - could one of the mods almalgamate them maybe?

__________________
Tennpar


Strong Club Player

Status: Offline
Posts: 542
Date:
Permalink  

Good to see Marcus out & about again and building up his ranking again

__________________
Stircrazy


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 57685
Date:
Permalink  

Coup Droit wrote:

PS There's also another thread for Marcus - could one of the mods almalgamate them maybe?

Done - see very first page.



__________________
Coup Droit


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 55240
Date:
Permalink  

Thank you :)

__________________
Priesty


Challenger level

Status: Offline
Posts: 2562
Date:
Permalink  

www.express.co.uk/sport/tennis/1915699/Marcus-Willis-Roger-Federer-Wimbledon

Never knew this - Marcus the bricklayer!

__________________
JonH comes home


Tennis legend

Status: Offline
Posts: 41347
Date:
Permalink  

He says

The next step is to get a partner who is reliable - that is a common problem in doubles. I dont know where my limit is - that is the thing. What has not changed is his love for tennis.

Presuming he means one he can stick with and grow as a pair?

__________________
«First  <  1 … 11 12 13 14  >  Last»  | Page of 14  sorted by
 
Quick Reply

Please log in to post quick replies.
Link Back -> Andrew Murray message board -> Individual Player Threads -> Marcus Willis
Tweet this page Post to Digg Post to Del.icio.us


Create your own FREE Forum
Report Abuse 		Powered by ActiveBoard