Jacob Fearnley is stumped. The question of what he believes he can achieve in his tennis career is simple enough, but it leaves the 23-year-old staring up at the clear blue skies above.
“No one has ever asked me that before,” he says with a smile, no longer at quite such a loss for words. “When you’re a kid, you want to win Wimbledon and be world No1. I’ve had a taste of the level now. I don’t see why I can’t make it to the top of the game. There’s no reason why.
“But I’m also not going to say I can, because I know a lot of things have to click. I have to stay healthy and, probably, get a little bit lucky.”
This is a typically measured and nuanced response from Fearnley, the level-headed 23-year-old who was ranked 1,893rd in the world as recently as October 2023 but is now No51 and heads to Wimbledon behind only fourth seed Jack Draper, a one-time juniors hitting partner of his, as the British No2.
“When you say it out loud, it’s weird for me to fathom,” he says of his rise. “I try to reflect, but life is now very fast-paced for me. I really should reflect and reminisce more.”
Plenty of people have been astonished by the rapid rate of Fearnley climb out of obscurity and subsequent rise to the big-time. “I’m definitely one of them,” he tells Standard Sport. “I would be lying if I said I had predicted this! But in tennis you have to perform year in, year out. I may never be in this position again. I have to enjoy it while it lasts.”
He faces the Brazilian teenager João Fonseca in the first round, a second meeting with a player he lost to in March. But defeats are something he has had to accept, making the move from Challenger events to the Tour itself.
“I’ve had to accept there are going to be a few more losses than there were last year, just due to the fact of going up levels,” he says. “I know losses against amazing tennis players will happen. I’ve played Alex Zverev twice — he’s No2 in the world — played [Grigor] Dimitrov, played [Alex] De Minaur, played more top-10 players. Those are matches that physically you can be ready for, but you also have to be ready mentally to win those matches.
“I was aware going into this year that there might be a few more losses, but I think in terms of gaining experience and valuable learning, it’s been an extremely successful year so far.”
I don’t see why I can’t make it to the top of the game. There’s no reason why.
Fearnley grew up just outside of Edinburgh and still carries the accent with him, but his career was made across the pond, where he came through the American college system.
“I don’t think it’s that rare anymore,” he says. “In the top 100, there are about 18 players who went through the college system. It’s great for those who, like myself, weren’t ready to go pro straight away out of high school. It was an amazing experience that set me up perfectly for what I wanted to do.
“My last few years in college, I really upped my work ethic and intensity because I knew something needed to change. I wanted to play tennis for a living. The work me and my coach Devin Bowen did really set me up to do well on the tour. I still didn’t think it would happen as quickly as it did.”
Fearnley was a wildcard at Wimbledon last year but made himself known, taking a set off Novak Djokovic in a memorable first-round defeat just a month after winning the Nottingham Open, his first title. Then came beating Kei Nishikori on his Davis Cup debut and, in January, he knocked out Nick Kyrgios from his home slam, a straight-sets victory in the Australian Open first round. These days, he is a fixture on the Tour.
It'll be strange without Andy Murray at Wimbledon this year, he mentions, before qualifying: “But there’s still a top-5 now with Jack! All the hype will be around Jack and hopefully me and Norrie. We’ll do well for the flag.
“It’s incredible what Jack has done in the past nine months or so. I grew up with Jack, playing the same tournaments, and I still can’t quite believe he’s No5 in the world.”
He knows how this may sound and swiftly interrupts himself. “Not because he doesn’t deserve it, it’s just cool to see a friend you grew up with achieving such great things in the sport. I’ve tried to learn from him; he’s where I aspire to be.”
Speaking to Fearnley, it is tangible how single-minded he has become since his career took off. Or, perhaps more accurately, dual-minded. Tennis and coffee. Coffee and tennis.
“I go for walks and am big into my coffee. Me and my coach always try and find a coffee spot to make ourselves at home. Close to Barnes and the National Tennis Centre [in Roehampton], there are some good spots. In East Sheen, there’s a coffee shop every two stores along.”
His Wimbledon target is undefined — “I don’t have a round in mind” — but his trajectory rather more clear-cut.
“I like to think I’m far away from the finished product, which is really exciting. The mental side is how I’ve improved most.
“I’m competing well against some of the best players in the sport. It bodes well for the future.”
