From ‘overweight loser’ to tennis sensation: Love match that sent Marcus Willis to Wimbledon glory

OVERWEIGHT, miserable and living with his parents, British tennis no-hoper Marcus Willis was ready to give up on his dream of Wimbledon glory.

But then he found a real love match at an Ellie Goulding gig — and his new girlfriend convinced him to give it one more shot.

On Monday the world No772 pulled off one of the biggest upsets in the tournament’s history, sensationally beating world No54, Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis.

Today he is scheduled to step on to Centre Court for a second-round clash with seven-times champ Roger Federer in front of a huge TV audience.

And he does so having, since Monday, already reportedly landed a mystery £25,000 sponsorship deal as well as ­messages of encouragement from singer Ellie and Wimbledon ace Andy Murray.

He will also pocket a £50,000 prize for having reached the second round.

It’s a far cry from the days the pint-loving player funded his low-ranking tennis career with loans — and whose winnings last year were a paltry £213.

Last night the once-overweight underdog nicknamed Cartman after the chubby South Park character, exclusively told The Sun: “It’s not your normal story, I suppose, but I’ve done it and I’m delighted.

“It’s the ultimate dream come true. A few weeks ago no one had heard of me. Now I’m doing interviews that are going around the world. It’s crazy.”

The 25-year-old was spurred on to glory in his first-round match by a secret kiss away from the crowds from dentist ­girlfriend Jenny Bate, 30.

Jenny talked me round and made me see clear

And just a few days before he had hinted on Twitter that his preparations for his big match had been helped along by some “#birthdaysex”.

He revealed yesterday how former beauty pageant contestant Jenny, from Warwick, had turned his life around after they met in a bar after the Ellie Goulding gig at London’s O2 in March.

At the time the player, who lives with teacher mum Cathy, 47, accountant dad Jim, 49, sister Chloe, 17 and brother Joe, 14, in Wokingham, Berks, had been overweight and so depressed he found it hard to face each new day.

Marcus, 6ft 3in and now a trim 14st, told us: “I was ­trying to fund my own tennis for a couple of years through credit cards.

“It’s been very, very difficult. I haven’t always been happy. The last year has been very tough.

“I had hurt my knee and I’d had enough. I had no money. I didn’t get out of bed, I was really down. December was bad, and I had a really bad Christmas.”

Then, as he struggled to pay the bills, he was offered a coaching job at a country club in Philadelphia.

He decided to quit the UK and ­competitive playing and was mid-way through arranging a visa when Jenny appeared on the scene and “it was love at first sight”.

Marcus said: “I was very, very close to doing it. I am meant to be there now. It was supposed to be June 13. It was a private country club.

“I went to Ellie Goulding and after that I went out somewhere and got speaking to Jenny. It was March 25.

“Weirdly, she talked me round almost straight away. She made me think clearly.”

Marcus and Jenny, who has two young sons, have been together ever since. He has spent as much time with her as possible by giving £30-an-hour lessons at Warwick Boat Club, near her home.

And the loved-up player, who was too poor a player to merit a Wimbledon wild card, reapplied himself and managed to win SIX matches in succession to earn himself a place at the championships.

And Jenny, who cheered him on Monday along with a noisy bunch of his mates known as “the Berkshire bulldogs”, could not be more thrilled.

The NHS dentist, who made a bid to be Miss England back in 2010, told The Sun: “He’s got a ­wonderful family behind him and all his friends were chanting throughout. He’s got a really good group around him.

“He’s a good lad and now he is doing really well.

We wake up every day and look at each other and burst out laughing, thinking this must be a dream. Is it real? What’s next?

“But he wants it so much and has worked really hard for this.”

Marcus was in fact once Britain’s No1 junior, but his love of partying and lack of discipline derailed his natural talent.

Back in 2008 he was even sent home from a junior grand-slam in Australia for repeatedly turning up late and ­forgetting his kit.

More recently he has played the US circuit, making more of a name for himself as a clown then a player.

Fellow player Liam Broady, 22, who was knocked out of Wimbledon by Andy Murray, said last night: “I don’t think he’d mind me saying he used to be a bit more of a social butterfly, whereas now he seems more switched on and single-minded.

"Marcus is a comedian, the funniest guy on the tour, I think. I think he has that reputation among pretty much all nationalities.

“When I played him in the States, he was drinking Pepsi on the court and eating Snickers on the court.

“That’s when he got the nickname Cartman. He lives up to it I think that’s one of his big advantages — he’s so relaxed at this stage.”

And Marcus himself admitted last night: “It took me a while to mature.

“That work ethic didn’t really come that easily to me as a kid growing up.

“I’ve got a personality — I muck up, but after that I’ve really worked hard and that’s been the key.”

Indeed, the newly grown-up player planned to ­prepare for today’s key clash by going home to “chill out” and get a “good night’s sleep”.

The closest he has previously come to facing Federer, he admits, is when he “walked past” the Swiss champion as a junior.

Before they finally meet today, he hopes to be able to pop on to Centre Court in secret to “catch some vibes”.

And whatever happens at what may be only the fourth five-set match he has ever played, he has promised himself a pint afterwards — “or more than one”’.

He said of his big day: “It’s massive. It’s everyone’s dream to play there.

“It’s a dream come true — I am going to go and enjoy it. I am very aware it is not just another match but I have to treat it that way. I can’t be over-awed.”

Marcus has already had a “lovely” voicemail from Andy Murray wishing him luck.

And among the many who will be willing him on is his unwitting Cupid, singer Ellie Goulding.

She sent a message via The Sun last night saying: “I’m always delighted to hear of such romantic and inspirational stories from my shows. What a proud moment for both of them! Wishing him the very best of luck for tomorrow.”

As for his own thoughts on his ­chances against the world No3, Marcus told us: “He is obviously heavy favourite and I’m not. But it’s a tennis match — the balls are round and I’m going to go out there and try to do a job.

“Stranger things have happened. Well, I don’t know . . . I had to stop myself there! It would be amazing but I’m just going to take it a point at a time.”