Marcus Willis

indiana · Tennis legend

Marcus Willis

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Moving away from the specifics of Marcus, or differing opinions about him, it's very interesting from a cultural point of view.

The British (including me) - and maybe the Scottish in particular? - tend to have a rather Puritanical approach: we expect hard work, and application, and if that's not there then the person is undeserving. On the contrary, if someone is serious and works their socks off, we forgive anything, in fact we have huge respect, we admire the suffering. It's a very Calvinist approach, it seems to me.

My Italian and Greek friends, in particular, appreciate God-given talent and flair far more. Their Catholic/Greek Orthodox view seems to look down on the workmanlike player who makes the very most of his 'average' abilities - if God hasn't picked you out for special talent endowment, then you are mocking 'him'/wasting 'his' time by making such a daft effort.

I know it's a generalisation and my religious scholarship may be seriously questionable but there's certainly some truth to it.

Spectator · All-time great

Always interesting points, CD! I'm not sure I've ever thought about it as a function of theology ... but I would definitely concur in terms of national character. Maybe it's some combination of the two? Spain, for example, is an interesting one - resolutely Catholic in faith (where people have one) but with far more respect for hard graft. One I'll ponder ...

And then there are the French. You will know better than I, but my sense is that in that laicised state it is the aesthetic - doesn't particularly matter whether it's God-given or hard-won, but it's got to be beautiful. You can go up like a rocket or down in flames ... but either way, the arc had best be fairly spectacular, and the sparks flying. I've always felt that the French national play should be Cyrano ... and the last lines thereof engraved on every French player's racquet.

If I remember correctly, the French took to Marcus Willis with great delight - recognising his art and enjoying his story.

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

Yes, Spec. Not wanting to labour my meanderings - or seriously suggest that Marcus should move to Greece

- but I think you're quite right. I don't really know enough Spaniards well but their players are certainly some of the hardest grafters so something is different there...
And the very secular French are most certainly a bunch of aesthetes - it's all in the look, the (pseudo?) intellectualism, the appearance of depth. And they certainly love Marcus

Oakland2002 · All-time great

I don't buy into this talent nonsense (probably because I don't have much) much more of the Gary Player School of thought, "the harder you work the luckier you get".

There are lots of Marcus Willis's and yes his approach is a frustration, however in stark contrast there aren't many Fran Jones' s. What you do with the cards you are delt for me is the essence of sport and something those with talent, god given or what ever should respect.

-- Edited by Oakland2002 on Wednesday 5th of July 2017 05:41:25 PM

Madadman · Masters Series Champion

Anyone know of Marcus' plans post Wimbledon? Don't think I've seen him on any entry lists.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Madadman wrote:
Anyone know of Marcus' plans post Wimbledon? Don't think I've seen him on any entry lists.

I have just seen Ken & Neal Skupski tweeting about going to play World Team Tennis. I seem to remember Marcus playing in that as well last year (same team as Neal?) so maybe that is what he has planned.

Edit

A few seconds of research and I have found this.

Introducing the players suiting up for 2017 New York Empire: John Isner, Genie Bouchard, Mardy Fish, Maria Sanchez, Marcus Willis, Kirsten Flipkens and Neal Skupski.

Apparently it starts in about 3 days.

-- Edited by Bob in Spain on Thursday 13th of July 2017 09:22:30 PM

the addict · Tennis legend

Ah, pursuing money and fame then

indiana · Tennis legend

Fair dos and after that I think he may have Moldovan League and Uncle Tom Cobley Cup commitments.

the addict · Tennis legend

Marcus and Neal are with New York, Ken is with Orange County, and Naomi with San Diego. And it all starts on Sunday 16th

Coup Droit · Tennis legend

On the New York Empire team roster, Marcus is listed as 'substitute'.

Bob in Spain · Tennis legend

Marcus Willis - the Kevin Pieterson of tennis, selling his services to the highest bidder.

christ · Futures level

He's never going to be world number 1, and unlikely to be a regular at Slam events, so why not parlay his fleeting fame into money?

If you have difficulty winning, then finding a way to get paid for losing strikes me as admirably canny.

-- Edited by christ on Friday 14th of July 2017 09:27:38 AM

Helen40 · Grand Slam Champion

We all have to make a living, so I've no issue with that, but I will have issue if he doesn't make a go of it this year, and wastes it like last year. It'll be harder for him now too as his Wimby points are off.

christ · Futures level

Helen40 wrote:
We all have to make a living, so I've no issue with that, but I will have issue if he doesn't make a go of it this year, and wastes it like last year. It'll be harder for him now too as his Wimby points are off.

"Wastes"?

if he made £1 million opening supermarkets, I doubt that he would consider it a waste.

if his objective was to become famous through tennis, then he has done it.

if his objective was to make money through tennis, then he appears to have found a way to do it.

What precisely is being wasted?

I am not sure that it is his duty to thrash around the challenger - or even the ATP - circuit picking up a few thousands here and there for (say) losing finals - even if he wins the odd one or two.