Published: 26 Oct 2013 06:45
Exclusive by Shakila Barabhuiya
IN-FORM tennis star Marcus Willis has set his sights on playing at Wimbledon next year.
The Slough star has surged up the ATP rankings this year, going from 964th to 346th in just 10 months.
Willis, 23, has won nine titles this season and is aiming for a Wimbledon wildcard entry next summer.
'Ideally, I want to be playing at Wimbledon so I need to be in the top 250, which isn't too far off,' he told the Observer.
He needs to win three or four more tournaments by the end of May 2014 to have chance, adding: 'It's an exciting chase for Wimbledon but I don't want to put pressure on myself, It will be very difficult.
'I never set myself goals for tournaments, I like to win every match I play. It would be nice but I've got to think long-term and sustain my ranking.'
The Slough-born player has enjoyed a rich vein of form in the last few months and has been working hard to improve his all-round game, which has certainly paid dividends.
He said: 'I've been working on my fitness a lot this year and my concentration levels.
'I've always struggled to win matches convincingly, so I've worked on being a bit more clinical and closing out matches.'
He said the final of his F3 Futures match against Frenchman Tak Khunn Wang in Kuwait was the best match he had ever played, where everything seemed to click into place.
'The guy was top seed and I went 2-0 down in the first set. I don't know what happened, but for the next hour I really shocked myself with how I played. I just relaxed and he didn't maintain that level when I started matching him, I played better and better.'
He went on to triumph 6-3, 6-2 to claim his sixth trophy in as many weeks out in the Middle East.
He also had success with doubles partner Lewis Burton, picking up six titles this year. The duo only started playing together in August but have won 16 of their 17 matches.
'We understand each other very well,' said Willis. 'It normally takes a long time.'
Willis is no stranger to doubles wins, having previously gone on an 18-match unbeaten streak with fellow Berkshire player Neil Pauffley.
The left-hander, who splits training between London and the Virgin Active Health Club in Nine Mile Ride, says the financial support from sponsors A1 Pharmaceutical has been 'a massive weight' off his shoulders, allowing him to concentrate solely on his tennis.
'A1 have really helped me out because half the problems are created by finances as the prize money isn't great.'
In addition, he has been winning without a coach or fitness instructor, but is now looking for another sponsor to pay for the support to take him up to the next level.
'If I want to make a serious living out of tennis, I need to have a coach this year.'
Any companies interested in sponsoring Marcus Willis should contact Marcuswillis90@hotmail.co.uk or Gary@a1plc.co.uk.
**PICK up a copy of the Observer, out now, for all the latest sports news and action**
**FOLLOW the Observer on Twitter @Observer_sports**
0 comments:
Post a Comment