Willis embarking on another fairytale run?

Marcus Willis was the toast of Britain 12 months ago at Wimbledon.

The little-known local, who came through pre-qualifying, then three rounds of qualifying, then won his opening match at the All England Club before lining up against Roger Federer on Centre Court in the second round, was back at Roehampton on Monday.

And he came away with another win.

Could Willis be primed for another heart-warming run at the tournament that put him on the tennis map a year ago?

He certainly has an added steeliness about him which could stand him in good stead as he targets a second-consecutive main draw appearance at SW19.

The Marcus Willis rampage 2017 is underway. First round of qualies won.

Next – Liam Broady.

— DavidLaw (@DavidLawTennis) June 26, 2017

“Last year I came here knowing no-one really knew what was going on. I’d pre-qualified, and I was happy to be here,” he told wimbledon.com after beating Andrej Martin of Slovakia 7-5 7-5 on Monday.

“I’m happy to be here again this year obviously, but after what I did last year, doing less could be disappointing.”

Willis reportedly requested a main draw wildcard to this year’s Championships but instead had to settle for a wildcard into qualifying, a blessing for the world No.374 – who would otherwise have missed the cut.

But a lowly ranking is certainly not a doom-and-gloom case for the 26-year-old, who this year is accompanied at Roehampton by wife Jennifer and baby daughter Martha, just 14 weeks old.

Mascot is ready for game day! #daddycool #marthamondays pic.twitter.com/gLYRkCf08k

— Marcus Willis (@Willbomb90) June 26, 2017

His win over Martin sets up a second-round meeting with fellow Brit Liam Broady, with victory putting him just one win from the Wimbledon main draw.

“You want everything in life, but that’s not what it’s about, is it,” Willis said in the same interview.

“I’m lucky to be here. They could have put me in pre-qualifying and I wouldn’t be here, because I was playing in Ilkley last week.

“I’ve played (Broady) a few times – lost a few, won a few. It’s a very difficult match, he’s a very difficult player, wildcard last year and has been near the top 100. He knows what I’m going to bring, I know what he’s going to bring, so it’s a chess game tomorrow.

“But I’m not putting any [pressure] on myself. If other people are, then that’s up to them.”