In 2016, Marcus Willis, a talented British tennis player, experienced one of the most memorable moments of his career when he faced off against the legendary Swiss Maestro, Roger Federer, at Wimbledon. Although Willis ultimately lost the match, his performance against the 20-time Grand Slam champion captured the hearts of fans and garnered widespread admiration.
Having to play against a tennis legend like Federer can be an experience you cannot compare to any other. And that is how Marcus felt while he had a tough match against him. Years after having lost the match against the legend, Marcus shared his experience with the media about what he felt while playing against the legend. More than that, he talked about how Federer makes you feel while you are on the other side of the net.
Marcus Willis shares his experience of playing against Roger Federer at Wimbledon in 2016
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Marcus Willis’ experience playing against Roger Federer in the second round at Wimbledon 2016 was nothing short of a dream come true for the British tennis player. Having battled through the qualifying rounds and securing a spot in the main draw, Willis found himself face-to-face with one of the greatest tennis players of all time.
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Talking about how he felt during the match in an interview with the Liverpool Echo, he said, “The problem with Federer is people watch his best shots and think that’s what he does all the time. He did hit some good shots in the match but he’s just very solid. It took me by surprise how little he missed. I thought he’d try to hit winners all the time and he didn’t. You could never really relax.”
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Willis was obviously surprised by Federer’s solid playing stye, but what surprised him more was his ability to put pressure on the opponent.
Willis opened up about Federer’s uncanny ability
After talking about what a unique player Federer was, Marcus also discussed his playing style. Marcus mentioned that not only Federer was able to do all the basics very well, but also made the other player feel like they were under pressure. Willis shared that during his match with the Swiss Maestro, he never felt relaxed.
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Further, he added that Federer never gave free points to him. Not only was his attack solid, but so was his defense. He was able to change his pace depending on the other player and adapt to a new style. That is what sets him apart.
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