AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2025

Jacob Fearnley

Press Conference

A. ZVEREV/J. Fearnley

6-3, 6-4, 6-4

THE MODERATOR: Jacob, sorry about your loss. It was a tough opponent. Can you talk us through your feelings throughout the match?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I think obviously, like you said, extremely good opponent. I thought I played some good tennis, some good moments, some low moments. Yeah, I don't think there was too much in it. Just a few points here and there.

I think that's what those top guys do so well. They keep composed, and their base level just stays the same throughout the whole match. Mine went quite up and down, which I think is what cost me the match.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Just what is the challenge then of maintaining that level throughout three sets? He's won so many matches, and it kind of seems second nature to players like him.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I mean, I think the way I play, I like to play aggressive. So obviously it's going to be difficult for me to kind of maintain that level all the time. It's just kind of making less mistakes, I think, honestly.

I think the way that he plays, if he starts making too many mistakes, that's just not his game. He's extremely solid, and obviously he's got a massive serve. He chooses the right opportunities to go for the ball.

I think for me that will come with experience, just knowing when to maybe go for it and maybe when just to play solid. I mean, I thought I missed some balls by, like, such small margins. That's enough.

In the first set he hits a really good return, hits an unbelievable winner on the line, and then I lose that game and that's the set, done.

I think when you play a tennis player as good as Alex, you have to be on it all the time and not give as many loose points.

Q. How did it compare to what you expected to see the other side?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I mean, I think it was kind of what I expected. I knew that he was going to let me rally, and I knew I had to play aggressive because he's not going to make really many mistakes, and he's not really going to give me anything.

So that was kind of my game plan. I wanted to try and take it to him as best that I could, because I think if I played too passive, that was going to play kind of into his hands. That's what I tried to do.

I think I don't have any regrets with how I played the match.

Q. First Australian Open. How has the whole experience been? What's the biggest thing that you'll take out of it?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it's been awesome. Obviously an extremely, extremely good week for me. An unbelievable tournament.

Yeah, the fans were amazing. I played some incredible matches and had some more incredible experiences. So, yeah, extremely thankful for this kind of last couple of weeks really.

Yeah, I'm looking forward to coming back in the future.

Q. Jacob -- we're going with Jacob, right?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, go for it.

Q. I saw the game in the middle of the third set just sitting with your eyes closed and composing yourself a bit. Can you talk us through what you were doing there? Would you call it meditation? Is it something you have worked with someone on before?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I guess you could call it meditation. It's just kind of trying to stay present really, trying to kind of stay in the moment, because obviously there is a lot of stuff going on.

I kind of felt at that stage that I had some opportunities that I kind of let that slip. It's just kind of a way for me to try and put that behind me and just focus on what I can do next.

Q. Were you just conscious that maybe your mind was racing a bit or your heart rate was up a bit? Is that what you were trying...

JACOB FEARNLEY: Mind really. Not so much the heart. The mind is racing a little bit, so just trying to calm that down and just, yeah, relax a little bit.

Q. Just wondering if you've you had any time in Melbourne to reflect where you were 12 months ago? I think you'd just won a title in Luxembourg, right? Is that right?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I think, yeah, I won a title in Luxembourg a couple of weeks ago last year, and I think I had just played my first match of the season at TCU against ACU. I think that was where I was a year ago.

Pretty cool to see the progress and to play some massive matches here. It's really cool to see the progression and to be where I am now.

Q. Medical issue, as well? There was a medical issue?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Oh, in the match? Yeah, on my serve in the first set I felt a little tweak in my back, but I went off court, and he treated it, and it felt fine actually for the rest of the match. So there was nothing.

It didn't feel too bad, but I've had that before, and if you don't get it treated, it can escalate. I just wanted to avoid that happening.

Q. First, you met your coach at TCU. Similar story, like, Cameron Norrie. How is the atmosphere at the college? Would you recommend it for players who are maybe hesitating between going to college or getting to the professional tour?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I think if there is any kind of hesitation whether you think you should be going on the pro tour or not, you should definitely go to college.

I feel like if you are having those doubts about being on the pro tour, then you shouldn't be going on the pro tour straightaway.

I don't think that college tennis is any way a step back. I think it's a step forward, because you get to work on your fitness. You get to be part of a team. You get to play some unbelievable tennis, and you get to improve, so that when you come out of college, there's no doubts in your mind that what you want to be is a professional tennis player.

If you use your four years wisely in college, you can set yourself up unbelievably to do some damage on the tour. I think that's what a lot of the guys are doing nowadays.

I think it's the best route to take.

Q. Is there anything you've learned in particular over the last week or so that, you know, you'll use going forward? What have you realized about your level and the level of others around you?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, for myself it's a big kind of confidence boost. I kind of feel like knowing that I can compete against some of the best players in the world, it's really cool to see.

Obviously, like today, I learned a lot. I learned a lot about certain situations I need to do better. I mean, he's No. 2 in the world. He's probably playing some of the best tennis on the planet right now. So to have that experience, I learned a lot about my game, about what I need to do better.

So yeah, I've learned a lot. Yeah, I've said it a few times. To have these kind of matches kind of seven months, eight months into my professional career is extremely valuable.

Q. Did you find playing Zverev harder than playing Djokovic, certain different challenges to it? He was complementary about you afterwards. What did he say to you?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I don't know actually if it was -- it was different, I think. Obviously when I was playing Djokovic, I think I was around 250 in the world. So there was a bit less pressure, I felt, on my end.

But I don't think the level was any different from Djokovic or Alex. I think they're both playing exceptional. They gave me rhythm, and they both let me rally.

I think Zverev's serve is a little bit better than Novak's was just because he is a bit taller. No, obviously it's Novak Djokovic and Alex Zverev. They're both incredible tennis players. Yeah, both equally as challenging, I would say.

Q. Would you like to see Zverev win it now?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Of course (smiling). You always want the person that beat you to win it. He was very nice at the end. He said, Great playing and good luck. So it was really nice. It was cool to hear.

Q. First Davis cup call-up, how much are you looking forward to that? What does it mean to you to get selected?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it's awesome. It's a dream come true. I think every tennis player wants to represent their country. So to get the opportunity to do that is amazing. Going to Japan, which will be cool. I've never been to Japan. Looking forward to that also and to play with some good players and hopefully have a good tie. It will be amazing.

Q. Do you know, are you staying around -- will you go from here to there, or do you know what your sort of...

JACOB FEARNLEY: I would imagine I'll just stay here. It is a bit -- if I fly home to get used to the time difference and have to kind of fly back over here, it just doesn't really make sense, I don't think.

I think there's not too much time anyways. I think it's two weeks, isn't it? Yeah, I'll probably stay around here and just train a little bit, yeah.

Q. You're going to be in the top 80 after this week, I think. I'm curious, I guess this is a broad question, but what do you actually want to achieve in tennis, and have the last seven months changed that in any way, maybe, I don't know, increased it?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I don't really know. I think all I can do is be the best I can be. If I keep working hard and keep doing the right things, then good things will happen.

Then hopefully the sky is the limit, but I don't really have any ranking goals, if that's kind of what you're asking. Just trying to take things day by day, keep improving, and see what I can do and hopefully can win some more matches somewhere down the line.

Q. Has that always been your approach, or is that something that's changed for you, just taking things day by day and not looking...

JACOB FEARNLEY: I think it's definitely something that I've tried to do more as I've got older. Obviously, as you mature, I feel I think of things a bit differently. I just don't feel that setting huge ranking goals helps me. It just adds a bit of unnecessary pressure that I don't feel that I need.

So that's kind of why I just take things day by day and match by match and just give the best I can. Then hopefully good things will happen.

Q. If you are going to stay here, do you think you'll give yourself a couple of days now to just kind of enjoy Melbourne and see the city and kind of reflect? Then, also, just going forward the rest of the year, are you looking to just go straight on and just play full-time on the ATP, or do you think you'll mix in some challengers?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I'll definitely take a couple of days off, I think. I think that's probably best.

Yeah, in terms of schedule, I'll probably do a mix. Obviously I'll play all the big tournaments. Then I think in and around kind of Indian Wells, Miami there's some really big challengers there. Obviously if I'm out of Indian Wells, then I'll go and play Phoenix challenger because, I mean, last year that was like a 250 event almost.

Yeah, just kind of wherever I'm getting in. If my ranking is at a stage where I'm always getting in 250s, then I'll always play ATPs, but as of right now, I'm still kind of on the cusp. So there will probably be the odd challenger that I'll play, for sure.

Q. What's the reaction been from home? You must have had a lot of messages of support.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it's been cool. I had a lot of people reach out to me that I haven't spoken to in a long time, some people close to me.

Q. For money or (laughing)...

JACOB FEARNLEY: Maybe a bit of that, I don't know (smiling). But, no, it's really cool. It's always nice to receive support from home. Yeah, super grateful for everyone and all the support and everyone that's followed along.

Q. You're going to play all the tournaments that you haven't been to before? Sort of have new experiences. I just wonder what are you most looking forward to about kind of your first full year on the tour?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I don't really know, to be honest. I'm kind of looking forward to everything. I think tennis is a sport where there's a lot of unknowns. I love that about tennis.

You know, you don't know who you are going to play. I mean, for me personally I have no idea what Indian Wells is like, for example, but I've heard it's beautiful. So I will say that's probably what I'm looking forward to most. I've always wanted to play that event, so that will be really cool.