Marcus Willis, Wimbledon darling, gets shot at Murray and career prize

Andy Murray is one ranking position away from the top of the world. Marcus Willis is three ranking positions away from falling outside the Top 500.

There really shouldn’t be any scenario in which Willis can compete with the searing-hot Murray on a level playing field. But on Sunday, at Tie Break Tens in Vienna, Austria, the winner of Wimbledon’s first week will have as good a chance as any to take down the actual Wimbledon champion.

“Could I beat Andy Murray in a ten-point tie-break? Probably,” Willis said in advance of Ten Break Tens, an event that exclusively uses the tiebreaker to determine a winner.

The two Brits will be joined by former Wimbledon champion Goran Ivanisevic in one round-robin group, with the top two players advancing. The other group will feature Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Dominic Thiem and Tommy Haas.

Between the six round-robin contests, two semifinals, a third-place match and a final, ten first-to-10-point matches will take place. And it should all wrap up in less than the time it’s taken for many five-setters to conclude on tour.

Despite the vast rankings gap, Willis fancies his chances in this fast format.

“[Lower-league soccer team] Accrington Stanley would lose to Manchester United over 90 minutes, but in a 10-minute match they would stand a chance,” he said. “I think it will suit my game.”

Since his memorable run at Wimbledon, where the 772nd-ranked Willis qualified, won a match and played Roger Federer on Centre Court, the 26-year-old has made the most of his year. He was invited to participate in World TeamTennis, even clinching a match for the expansion New York Empire. He has come a long way since toiling, in rather laughable fashion, in tennis’ lower leagues.

On Sunday, Willis will be competing for what would be a life-changing prize—the winner of Tie Break Tens collects $250,000. In his career, Willis has earned $163,389.

“It’s exciting, it’s a sprint, and the crowd is going to be into it,” Willis said. “I’m lucky to have been given this opportunity and I’m going to get in there.”

Tie Break Tens will be broadcast live on TENNIS.com on Sunday, October 23 at 1 P.M. Eastern time. You can watch the event, and replay it afterward, at this page.