British Star Quits Tennis To Become Bricklayer
Now the 33 year old, who is in the best shape of his career, has been invited back to SW19 after cracking the world’s doubles top 100 for the first time.
Marriage, two kids, retirement, coaching, back out, he laughed. “I have packed a lot in over the last eight years.”
Back in 2016, the then world singles No.772 achieved folk hero status by winning six matches in qualifying, including beating future stars Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev before facing Federer under the Centre Court roof in the second round.
The left-hander lost 6-0 6-3 6-4 but won the hearts of the nation and produced a running backhand lob over the Swiss superstar which was voted shot of the tournament. “It is nice for me to hear even now people say they were there or where they were watching that match,” he said. “It was an amazing story at the time. But it seems like a lifetime ago.” Now married to dental surgeon Jenny, he admits his story since has been a “strange one”. Speaking at The Boodles this week, Willis explained: “I had shoulder injury problems and I went to Greece to picked up €30 prize money and thought: ‘I have got a family. I can’t financially do this.’ I didn’t want to stop but I kinda had to.” He did coaching in the USA, London and his hometown of Warwick before the pandemic. “Tennis coaching wasn’t allowed and my rent was still very much going up,” Willis recalled.did go down to my local Tesco but everyone had got the jobs. “My cousin kindly gave me some hours bricklaying and I really enjoyed it. It was quite therapeutic.”
Willis then played an exhibition at the end of 2021 and family friend and businessman Steve Bennett offered him sponsorship to return to play doubles. “I was thinking about a three-year plan to get myself into the top 100 and into the Slams.” In fact, he returned in July 2022 without any ranking and from December last year has won seven Challenger titles with five different partners. “I am starting to make a living from doubles now,” said the doubles world No.95.The next step is to get a partner who is reliable that is a common problem in doubles. “I don’t know where my limit is, that is the thing.” What has not changed is his love for tennis.
“Ever since I was a kid, I got home from school and got a racket and ball and hit against my house,” Willis recalled. “I did it for hours pretending I was playing Pete Sampras at Wimbledon. I have always been obsessed with it and I guess that is why I am still here.It would have been very easy to get a nice job and retire but I still love it. I will keep going as long as I have that feeling.” Willis earned the nickname Cartman earlier in his career for his lack of conditioning and he went viral at an ATP Challenger Tour event in 2014 when he drank a can of cola and ate a Snickers bar during a matchNow he is in great shape with a fitness trainer and a strict diet. “I am ticking all the boxes,” he said. “Weight-wise it is difficult to compare to before because I have put on muscle,” he said.
“Last time I weighed myself, I was 93/94 kgs but I have been up to 115 kgs and down to 91kgs. I would say this is the best shape I have been in as a professional athlete. I feel good”
BBC /Adukwu William. Lagos
