MESHREF, November 19, 2016
Marcus Willis is back in action and back to winning ways. The 26-year-old Briton captured the $10,000 ITF Future title in Meshref, held on hard courts at the Yarmouk Sports Club in Kuwait. Willis won Saturday’s final against third seed Daniel Altmaier of Germany 6-3, 7-6.
Willis has played his only second tournament since reaching the second round in Wimbledon in June, where he lost to Roger Federer. He failed to qualify into the main draw of the Erste Bank Open 500 in Vienna one month ago, where he also competed in the Tie Break Tens, and has now returned to the ITF Pro Circuit. The World No. 503 didn’t drop a set en-route to claim the title.
Willis lifted his ninth ITF career trophy, his first since winning in Mostoles, Spain, in April 2015. He takes away $1,310 in prize money as well as 18 ATP ranking points.
The singles finalists teamed up on Friday to clinch the doubles title together. Altmaier and Willis beat Roy Sarut de Valk from the Netherlands and Ronon Joncour of France 6-1, 6-1.