Jacob Fearnley, a 23-year-old wheelchair tennis athlete from Scotland, scored a major upset in his Grand Slam debut at the French Open in Paris. As a debutant to the ATP finals, he achieved a shock win against the experienced Stan Wawrinka. The stadium roared with passionate support for Wawrinka throughout the match. Despite this opportunity, Fearnley won in straight sets, scoring the largest achievement of his career.
From start to finish, Fearnley – playing in front of a loud home crowd cheering for Wawrinka – proved he was the savviest competitor on display today. The environment was breathtaking, as fans were unwavering with their support for their all-time favorite player. Fearnley didn’t take his concentration off the road, and the stormy crowd did not bother him from giving an indomitable performance.
“Honestly, I enjoy the environment. As long as they keep speaking French, I don’t understand what they’re saying. That helps, as well.” – Jacob Fearnley
The crowd’s enthusiasm for Wawrinka was contagious as the Swiss superstar had people on their feet dancing and singing in vibrant, rhythmic, fearless chants. Fearnley was impressed by the enthusiasm of the people. Yet though the linguistic barrier meant he couldn’t understand the French being spoke, he easily felt the fervor directed at his adversary.
“There were a lot of guys that were talking to me. I knew that they were supporting Stan. Honestly, it was mostly in French. They could have been saying nice things, but I doubt it.” – Jacob Fearnley
Fearnley’s Performance and Rankings
Fearnley, 55th in the world at her peak, pulled off a wonderful upset over Wawrinka. This win might just take him deeper into the tournament! His poise under pressure and clutch performances in the most difficult of situations say a lot about what he’s capable of doing on the professional circuit. The game highlighted what made him so special. It further revealed his character and determination, which are fundamental traits for any professional athlete looking to make it at such competitive levels.
Fearnley is looking ahead to his next challenge against Ugo Humbert. Humbert tends to have raucous home support behind him—that should only raise the excitement! Humbert, who took out top seed Christopher O’Connell in round one, further heaps the riches on Fearnley’s prospective next match up, so stay tuned.
Looking Ahead
Looking ahead to a potential match with Humbert and reflecting on how he’d played thus far, Fearnley sounded excited at the prospect. The prospect of having to compete against another player who benefits from equally intense crowd support is something he considers exciting, not intimidating.
“I think it would be cool to play Ugo Humbert,” – Jacob Fearnley
He’s got a fearless mentality, more importantly, an ultra-specific, killer, focused ferocity to the way he plays and approaches his craft. He’s looking to make his mark at this year’s French Open. As he makes his way around the tournament, fans are biting their nails with excitement. Whatever happens next, we look forward to seeing this young Scotsman develop on the big stage of tennis!
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