VIENNA, October 3, 2016

Marcus Willis, who stunned Wimbledon this year by reaching the second round to face Roger Federer on Centre Court despite being ranked at number 772 in the world, will return to the tennis circuit. The 25-year-old Brit was awarded a wild card into the qualifying of the Erste Bank Open 500, held inside the Stadthalle in Vienna later this month.

The news was announced by the organizers on Sunday via facebook:

Since Wimbledon, Willis has neither played a singles match on the ITF Pro Circuit nor on the ATP Tour. He is currently ranked on world number 500. In London, he battled through the qualifying and defaeted Ricardas Berankis in the first round of the main draw. The lefty was eventually stopped by the 17 time-Grand Slam-champion from Switzerland, losing in three sets.

One month ago, Willis has revealed he is to become a father and that the baby was conceived during the All England Championships. He told British magazine Hello! that becoming a dad was “a dream come true” and even better than his tennis triumph. “I’m really excited. Wimbledon was amazing but this is the best thing to come out of it,” he said.

Spectators in Vienna can look forward to this year’s Wimbledon public favourite, who is currently enjoying the best time of his life. The only disadvantage might affect promising Austrian youngsters, as there will be one invitation less left for them.

Willis in one of his spectacular rallies at Wimbledon: