AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 13, 2025

Jacob Fearnley

Press Conference

J. FEARNLEY/N. Kyrgios

7-6, 6-3, 7-6

THE MODERATOR: Jacob, congratulations on progressing through to the second round. How much of that was mental performance to get over the home crowd favorite in Nick Kyrgios?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I mean, I think a lot of it was mental, especially in that third set. You could kind of see that the tide turning a little bit. Yeah, I had to really fight to stay composed and not let my emotions get the better of me, not let the crowd kind of get to my head.

So yeah, I think that was very mental. Other than that, I think the first two sets were okay actually. I didn't really notice too much of the crowd.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Can you sum up the whole experience? What was going on inside? Because you didn't show emotion on the outside.

JACOB FEARNLEY: I mean, it was amazing. Honestly, it was one of the best experiences of my life I think. It was really cool. Obviously I was extremely nervous. It wasn't really until I walked out there that I actually was kind of calm.

Yeah, I mean, I think I kind of knew that I couldn't really show any emotion because I felt that the crowd was just going to eat that alive. So I was kind of fighting to just stay composed and stay calm and not give them anything.

Yeah, that's kind of what happened.

Q. Was the crowd as boisterous as you expected?

JACOB FEARNLEY: It was. I think it took them a while, though, to kind of get into that. Yeah, like I said, it was like 3-2 in the third set where it really changed. It got so loud in there. It was tough, because I couldn't even hear my coach, I couldn't hear anything.

That was actually probably more than I expected, to be honest. Especially in between first and second serves, it was quite difficult, to be honest.

Q. You always seem a pretty cool, calm customer. Have you always been like that? Have you ever been a racquet thrower or anything like that?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, never been a racquet thrower. I can get a bit mad, yeah. On these kind of stages, you kind of try and stay as calm as you can.

But no, yeah, I definitely have it in me, as does everyone. I'm human. I do get a little bit angry sometimes, just a little bit negative self-talk. No, never like throwing my racquet or anything like that or disrespectful. None of that.

Q. We were asking Jack about you earlier. He said when you were kids, his parents would say to him, Why can't you be more like Jacob. I think he was meaning that kind of calmness. What was the dynamic at the time? What was he like?

JACOB FEARNLEY: That's really cool, yeah. I wasn't really aware that that was a thing.

No, yeah, I mean, we had a really good relationship growing up. We were traveling around the world playing some junior events. Obviously we kind of went our separate paths. He was obviously doing amazing. I went to college. We lost a little bit of touch there.

No, I mean, Jack was great. He's humble. He's kind of everything you see, considering how talented and how well he does on the tennis court.

Yeah, he's honestly very similar to when he was younger. I kind of see that in him, for sure.

Q. We heard from Nick. He said it's probably going to be his last game at Melbourne Park. What do you think about that and what was it like playing against him in maybe his last match?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it was cool. I could tell that there was some stuff going on with him. Obviously he wasn't serving as he usually does.

But no, I mean, it was really cool to share the court with him. If that is his last match, I was glad I was able to play him before he went out. I spent a lot of time watching him as I was in college and even before college. He's obviously a massive name, someone on the court I have 100% looked up to.

So yeah, it was really a cool experience for me, 100%.

Q. Have you had a chance to see Andy or pick his brain about the match?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, absolutely nothing. Haven't seen him at all really. Obviously, I think he's very busy. Novak was playing at the same time. Obviously he has his priorities 100%. I haven't really had a chance to speak to him or anything.

Q. You've had a lot of cool experiences over the last 12 months. Had you met John McEnroe before? Was it kind of a surreal moment, getting interviewed by him and him saying a lot of nice things about you?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, that was really cool. When I saw him walking on, I was like, This is so cool. Yeah, was he commentating my match?

Q. Yes.

JACOB FEARNLEY: That was cool. Obviously I've seen John McEnroe interviewing some of the biggest names in the sport. For him to say such nice words, it means a lot coming from a guy like that. It was a really cool experience.

Q. Are your parents big tennis fans? I imagine it's even maybe a bigger moment for them to see that.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Probably, yeah. My mum plays tennis. My grandparents play tennis. My dad not so much, but my dad definitely knows who John McEnroe is. I'm sure he found it pretty cool, as well.

Q. Just a thought on your next match? A bit of a different occasion. Maybe you have to digest this one a bit and look forward to that one.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, no, for sure. I don't really know when I play next. I think Wednesday maybe. Yeah, obviously I'll play another great player. I think Arthur Cazaux I play.

Again, I played some junior events with him. I know he's an amazing player. I think he did really well here last year or the year before. He obviously plays amazing tennis here. It should be a really fun match and I'm looking forward to it.

Q. Saying how nervous you were, how do the nerves manifest themselves with you? Do you struggle to eat? Can't talk to friends?

JACOB FEARNLEY: It's a weird one. I don't really know how to kind of say it into words, but yeah, I go kind of quiet, kind of just get in my own head, my kind of body doesn't really respond to me. It's only until I kind of start hitting tennis balls, and then I realize everything's all right.

During the day I'm usually okay, but at night, just the anticipation, and in the morning I'm pretty on edge. Actually when I come to the site, I'm usually a bit better.

Q. Nick said you outserved him. At one point he was shouting at his box. Has that always been a huge part of your game?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, no, I had a good serving day. It went away a little bit in the third obviously. Yeah, I've worked on my serve a lot. While I was at TCU, I changed my serve big-time. Even over the off-season, I made some slight adjustments to it. It's a shot I'm constantly trying to improve and get better.

But yeah, today it went really well.

Q. John McEnroe asked you about your accent. It seems to be coming back here talking to all those Brits. Take us through the progression.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I mean, actually when I went to college in 2019, I lost it very quickly. Yeah, I don't really know how that happened. Then obviously I've kind of been out of college for seven, eight months now, been around a lot of British people. I think that's maybe why it starts coming back.

When I was talking to John, obviously he's American. Maybe I started to pick things up again. I'm not too sure. It comes and goes. Hopefully I keep the British accent more. But yeah.