Marcus Willis recovered from a shaky second set to beat 16-year-old Scottish starlet, Aiden McHugh, in three sets at Tipton Sports Academy in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) event.
The world’s number 445th best player, who famously lost to Roger Federer in the second round of Wimbledon in 2016 is set to face ex-doubles partner Jonathan Gray in the last 16 of the Tipton ITF event and is feeling optimistic ahead of the match.
“He’s another good young player. It will be tough, he’s playing very well and I’m expecting a tough match.
“I’m aiming to win playing my style of tennis and keep getting better at the same time.”
26-year-old Willis was happy with his first round performance, which was enough to see him in to the last 16 of the competition, but insists he can always be better.
“It’s always good to get the win obviously. There are always things to learn and always things to improve on, but all credit to my opponent, he played a very good match and made my life difficult.”
Lloyd Glasspool, Redditch, beat Italian, Simone Roncalli 6-4 6-2 to progress in to the next round.
The number three seed will face Neil Pauffley in a rematch of the 2015 final in which Pauffley ran out victor in a second set tiebreak.
It was a successful day for the British contingent as Jay Clarke, Derby, beat Frenchman, Hugo Grenier 3-6 6-2 7-5 and Jonathan Gray, Leeds, swiftly defeated fellow Brit, Joel Cannel in straight sets