Jacob Fearnley seemed to hit rock bottom in Newport at the Hall of Fame Championships in July where he lost in the second round of qualies to Li Tu 46 36 after beating Gijs Brouwer in three sets.
The former TCU player (he won a national championship in his third year) from Great Britain expected more from himself especially after extending world no. 2 Novak Djokovic to four sets 36 46 75 57 in the second round of Wimbledon and winning Nottingham 2 Challenger (as a qualifier) just before Wimbledon (beat Shang, Bellucci, Jubb, Bu, Lajal, Chidekh, and Broom in the final).
After losing to Tu in Newport, Fearnley engaged in a long, over five minute conversation with his coach Toby Smith just outside the media clubhouse deck, lamenting frustrations about feeling the pressures of having to win and missing that carefree mindset. That was the general composition of his discontent and aggravation about professional tennis.
It sounded like the talented 23 year old, ranked 231 at that time, with junior wins vs Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, was having difficulties believing he has what it takes to make the jump from NCAA to ATP elite.
Fearnley’s soul searching in Newport ended up being a turning point. He qualified at the next tournament in Chicago and reached the semi, losing to Gabriel Diallo. Then he won the Challenger in Lincoln, Nebraska, beating Coleman Wong in the final 64 62 and three three setters en route.
At US Open he lost first round of qualies to Paul Jubb 16 67 but then won his next tournament at Rennes Challenger in France, beating five French players Paire, Mannarino, Mayot, Gueymard, Wayenberg and then Halys in the final 06 76 63.
This week at Orleans Challenger in France, Fearnley won another title, beating Mayot in the final 63 76.
So the six-foot, one inch 173 pounder from Edinburgh, Scotland has won three Challengers since Newport, four this year, and is on verge of breaking the top 100.
Fearnley’s example once again proves, you just never know when a pro tennis player is going to suddenly engineer a breakout from ordinary results to the extraordinary.
ATP · Jacob Fearnley · Scotland · TCU
Cory · October 1, 2024 at 12:02 pm
I came online to ask you about him. I watched the final vs. Mayot. This guy’s ability to counterpunch and send balls to every corner of the court is outstanding. I think this guy could be top 20-40 at worst… notwithstanding his mental game (I have no idea). I am so impressed with his game.
Scoop Malinowski · October 1, 2024 at 12:22 pm
Cory, I saw an interview with Norrie during Wimbledon and had high praise for Fearnley, said we know how talented he is for a long time, he can play with everyone. The word was he just wasn’t ready maturity wise for the pros after juniors so he played college tennis for five years and he was dogged by injury woes. The college route works for a lot of players.