In a remarkable second-round performance at Wimbledon, British wildcard player, Jacob Fearnley put up an impressive fight against seven-time champion, Novak Djokovic. The right-handed player from Edinburgh even managed to clinch a set from Djokovic, mirroring his British colleague Andy Murray, during his first-time on Centre Court in the prestigious tournament.
Despite his 6-3 6-4 5-7 7-5 defeat, the 22-year-old player delivered a standout performance. He secured 42 points through winners, a considerable number of them through his powerful backhand, providing the audience with a thrilling match lasting exactly three hours.
This contest marked Fearnley’s ninth on grass this season, following a hectic month where he wound up his five-year span at Texas Christian University (TCU) in May. His victory in an ATP Challenger Tour event in Nottingham in June, earned him a wildcard invitation for the world-renowned tournament at the All England Club. His following conquest over Alejandro Moro Canas led to his encounter with Djokovic, the 24-time grand slam winner, on the esteemed SW19 stage.
Fearnley, wearing his signature reverse white baseball cap, stepped onto the court to show no initial signs of anxiety, winning the initial game effortlessly by a 121mph ace. He started to gain confidence throughout the match, even though his accomplished rallies were often followed by a break.
His energetic and skilful play, characterised by his expert backhand that led to a roaring applause, couldn’t keep Djokovic at bay, who exploited Fearnley’s errant slice to win a break and the first set in 32 minutes. Unfazed by the setback, Fearnley created his first break point opportunity in the second set’s fourth game, only for Djokovic to save with an ace. Despite a minor stumble, Djokovic overcame Fearnley’s resilient play to take the second set as Fearnley’s reliable backhand shot sailed long after an extensive 18-shot rally.
After initiating the third set with a sleek volley, Fearnley received an approving nod from Djokovic, sparking excitement amongst the spectators as he defeated the Serbian in the sixth game. The crowd’s enthusiastic cheers escalated when Fearnley’s superior skill at the net earned him a break point, culminating in Djokovic’s forehand going awry leading to a major point for the wild card player – an unforgettable highlight of the match.
With the close of the set marked by Fearnley’s victorious fist-bump, he opened the fourth by deploying a tweener. The stakes heightened as Djokovic, plagued by a double-fault, trailed 15-40 in the sixth game. Despite this, the second seed player displayed impressive resilience, silencing the spectators as he rallied back and overcame the rookie to advance to the tournament’s third round, not long after a meniscus injury compromising his Wimbledon performance seemed imminent.
However, the day indisputably belonged to Fearnley, who departed Centre Court amid a standing ovation after leaving a significant mark during his inaugural week at a grand slam.