THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

July 2, 2024

Jacob Fearnley

Press Conference

J. FEARNLEY/A. Moro Canas

7-5, 6-4, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Jacob, what a win, what a debut. How are you feeling?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, feeling great. Yeah, just to play on the Wimbledon courts was a great feeling. To come out with a win was really special. Yeah, I can't really describe what I'm feeling right now.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You knew when you were on court what the prize would be, second-round match against Novak Djokovic, greatest player of all time. Did that give you an extra impetus and need to win?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I mean, it's a great kind of, like you said, prize. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't watching the scores on Centre Court. It was getting in my head a little bit that I was going to have to play him.

Yeah, it's going to be a little bit intimidating, but it's a match that I'm super excited for. It's the biggest match of my career so far. Just to be able to share the court with a player like that will be really special.

Q. You've hit with Federer a few times before? How did that come about? Is that when you were a junior?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it was 2018 I think. I hit with him when he was playing in The Championships. Yeah, I was a junior, so I was playing the junior event.

I think he went to some of the LTA coaches and was like, Are there any hitters? My name got put forward. That was really cool. I mean, he's a super nice guy. Obviously a really, really special player. I learned a lot of things from those brief practice sessions.

Yeah, I was really grateful to have that opportunity.

Q. Can you believe how the last month has gone? You were outside the top 500, had to qualify for Nottingham, and Thursday you're playing on Centre Court against Djokovic.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it's a bit crazy, for sure. Obviously it's come very unexpectedly. Yeah, I had a great month. Won the national championships in America with TCU. Had, like, a week to prepare, maybe less, for Nottingham. Had to qualify. Kind of almost actually bowed out first round qualifying. Yeah, just managed to pull out some wins for the rest of the week.

Then, yeah, obviously I played Eastbourne. Had a tough match against Billy. Kind of felt that it was a good thing because that meant I was fresh coming into Wimbledon, which is the most important tournament.

Yeah, it's been a great month.

Q. How do you beat Novak Djokovic?

JACOB FEARNLEY: That's a good question. I don't think many people have the answer to that.

I have no idea. I've watched so many videos of him. It doesn't look like there's many flaws in his game. I'm going to just try and enjoy it, put my game out on the court and see what happens.

I don't think there's many tactics going into the match.

Q. Andy Murray did beat him in 2013 a couple of days before your 12th birthday. Do you remember watching that match on TV?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I do remember. I was watching that TV in my living room on my couch. Glued to my couch. Didn't move. It was a great match. Can't say I learnt at the time that maybe I was going to be playing him in 10 years' time. It was a great match. Really cool match.

Q. Hearts or Hibs?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I'm not really anything right now. I was Hibs. When I was younger, I used to go to the shop every weekend, just buy like some kind of memorabilia. When I went to the States, I kind of lost it a little bit.

Q. A lot of talk about Andy today. Tim Henman said he helped the young generation of British players, showing them it can be done on a stage like this. Is this something you can take belief from?

JACOB FEARNLEY: 100%. He's the best role model that a British tennis player can have, especially a Scottish player like myself. I watched him growing up, the way he climbed up the rankings, the way he competes, the way he plays, it's super special to see.

Yeah, I mean, I take a lot of what he does and try to implement it in my game. Yeah, if I have any kind of success like he's had on the tour, I'll be super happy. Yeah, super grateful for what he's done for the sport.

Q. What kind of contact have you had with him?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I haven't had any contact with him, to be honest. Just apart from brief watching him practice, stuff like that.

Q. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I read you previously have beaten Alcaraz and Sinner as juniors. When you're going into this match on Thursday, is that something you can draw upon?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I don't think so, to be honest. I played Alcaraz when he was maybe 14, I was 17. Sinner, yeah, I played him maybe when we were 15. Obviously the strides they've taken in their games has been a lot more than myself.

Yeah, the way they're playing, it's unbelievable. I don't think I can really take anything from those victories.

Q. What sort of family and friends are you going to have on Thursday potentially on Centre Court?

JACOB FEARNLEY: My mum will be there. My half brother James. Hopefully my dad. Dad will come. He wasn't able to come today. I think he'll come for that match, I hope. And yeah, I'll probably have a lot of friends. I mean, even today, there were so many friends that I hadn't seen, I didn't even know were coming, I saw them in the stands. I'm assuming there will be a lot of support behind me, playing in England, in the UK.

Q. What are your parents' names and occupations?

JACOB FEARNLEY: My mum is called Samantha. She was a human resources manager at NHS. She's recently retired. My dad is called Craig, and worked for Johnson Controls. But he's also retired as well.

Q. Would you rather be called Jacob or Jake?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Here I'm called Jacob. Over in the States I'm called Jake. I assume just call me Jacob while we're in the UK.