Marcus Willis, Wimbledon's Everyman of yesteryear who played Roger Federer, returns in doubles

LONDON (AP) — Marcus Willis, the Everyman's everyman who faced Roger Federer at Centre Court while ranked 772nd in 2016, was back at Wimbledon on Thursday, competing in men's doubles and hoping he might get to have a bit of a reunion with the now-retired eight-time champion at the All England Club.

Willis had not competed at the grass-court Grand Slam tournament since a run to the third round of doubles in 2017 alongside Jay Clarke. They renewed their partnership this time thanks to a wild-card entry and bowed out in the first round with a 6-4, 6-2 loss to Max Purcell, the 2022 Wimbledon doubles champion, and Jordan Thompson.

“I’ve got fond memories here, and when I got the wild card, I was pretty emotional about that,” said Willis, a 33-year-old from Britain. “Next step for me is trying to win matches at this level and trying to keep improving. And I feel like I am.”

Eight years ago, in something ripped straight out of a screenplay, Willis — once a promising junior — was living at home with his parents and earning $40 an hour giving lessons at tennis clubs. He won three matches in a playoff for low-ranked British players to get a berth in Wimbledon qualifying rounds, where he picked up another three victories — including against 2021 U.S. Open champion Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev, now a mainstay in the ATP's top 10 — to make it all the way to the main draw at the oldest major.