AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 16, 2025

Jacob Fearnley

Press Conference

J. FEARNLEY/A. Cazaux

3-6, 7-5, 6-2, 6-3

THE MODERATOR: How does it feel to be in the third round of the Australian Open?

JACOB FEARNLEY: It feels amazing. It was a tough match. Really tough conditions. Yeah, just super happy to be in the third round. I don't think it's really sunk in yet, but it's really cool.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. Is it the first time you've played on a court with a bar? What was that experience like?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it was an interesting one. I actually didn't really look at the court before I went on, so when I saw the bar, I was thinking it's going to be a pretty rowdy atmosphere. Usually they go together, a bar and a rowdy atmosphere. It was interesting.

But as I kind of settled into the match, I kind of blocked it out as much as I could. Obviously there was some supporters who were extremely drunk, but it was a great atmosphere, amazing atmosphere.

Q. Actually, it felt to me like the bar was generally quite in favor of you, but then on the other side there was this big crowd of French fans. What was that kind of atmosphere like? It was almost like a home and away setup at times.

JACOB FEARNLEY: It was interesting. Those French fans were great at their job. I mean, they were very good supporters. They had their chants down to a T.

Yeah, there was a couple of guys. There was one guy, actually, who was extremely vocal on the bar side. At first I couldn't tell if he was trying to psych me out, but then I realized he was on my side.

Q. The front row?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, he was wearing the Scotland shirt, I think. It was a blue shirt. I didn't know what it was. He actually got escorted out at the end. I wanted to see him because he was a really good support, yeah (laughing).

Q. Was it more difficult than the Kyrgios match because of the proximity as well, and also you sort of silenced the crowd in that first set?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it was definitely a change. In the future I'll definitely make an effort to go and see the court first because it did kind of catch me a little bit off guard.

Yeah, I was saying the Kyrgios match was louder, but I was a bit more distant, so it didn't kind of feel as in my face. Whereas, this one it feels like you're face-to-face, and it was pretty loud.

So kind of still both very difficult atmospheres, but in a different way.

Q. Do you enjoy that, though? Did you enjoy sort of having that against you and getting you going?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I do. Honestly it took me a while to get used to having support for me. Like, obviously, with Nick I didn't really have any. I had the odd, but it was difficult.

Having some support, it actually did take me a little bit of time to kind of get used to that. Once I was in the match, you kind of accept it. It's support, and people are going to be supporting my opponent. Some people are going to be supporting me.

As soon as I accepted that, you can just go and play and play tennis. It's quite cool, honestly. I really enjoy those atmospheres.

Q. We talked before the Nick match whether your college experience might prepare you for that. That was probably quite different. Was this a bit more like a college atmosphere?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, this one was definitely a little bit more like college. A lot less people. Yeah, just next to the court. That's kind of what college is. The stands are usually very close to the court. So yeah, definitely more of a college atmosphere.

I think still not quite as rowdy, but yeah, definitely more similar, for sure.

Q. You've played Djokovic on Centre Court. You've played Kyrgios here. Now you're going to play the No. 2 seed. Some players could go their whole career without having these kind of big occasions. This is only your second slam, and you just seem to be racking them up kind of. You just sort of roll with the punches of it, or do you have to kind of think, Wow, this is all happening to me very quick?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, no, it's quite cool, actually. Now I'm playing Zverev. It's another massive match. I assume it will be on a big court. Obviously he's No. 2 in the world. He's playing unbelievable. I'm aware that all these matches that I'm getting are extremely challenging.

Yeah, I do get nervous, but I know how lucky I am to have these experiences and play these matches. Like I said in other kind of interviews, these matches don't come around often. I'm trying to cherish them and stay in the present moment really and just try and enjoy these massive matches because they are some of the biggest that I can play.

Q. Were you aware that the match next to you got moved court because there was such a racket?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I only knew that at the end. Someone sent me a Twitter - or an X, sorry - that they got moved. I didn't actually know where that next match was. It was to the right of me, right, or...

Q. Yeah, must have been. The other side of the bar.

JACOB FEARNLEY: I didn't really know who was there. But I had no idea that it was getting moved. Honestly, it was so loud that I could barely hear what was going on on the other court. Yeah, I'm sorry if either of those two have any bad blood (laughing).

Q. It went five sets.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Hopefully it's all right. It was a crazy atmosphere.

Q. You were part of a record-breaking group of Brits in the second round. You're obviously in the third round. I don't know if you saw the Jack score as well. It was a big one. There's a little bit of a gang of you wandering around the locker room now. Is it nice to feel there's a few of you going deep?

JACOB FEARNLEY: For sure. Especially to be in the third round with Jack is really special. I mean, I've known him since we were very young, and to kind of be in this kind of occasion together in the third round, obviously I think we're kind of far apart in the draw, but it's awesome.

I think it's really cool to kind of look back on the past and then kind of see where we are now. It's really cool. Yeah, I mean, obviously we do our own thing. We're trying to get as far as we can, but every time I see him, it's great to see him around this place.

Yeah, hopefully I can see him for more at different tournaments.

Q. Did you catch any of his match?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I did. I caught the last set, I think. Yeah, I saw the last two games. Crazy match, so long. I couldn't imagine.

Q. Did you enjoy sticking his -- he didn't do any of that, but he felt the need?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Maybe his atmosphere was worse than mine, so maybe it was. It was, yes? I think it's allowed. Especially if he stayed calm the whole match, you're allowed to do a little something at the end to rub it in, for sure.

Q. Do you remember when you first met Jack? How old were you? Did you kind of play against each other a lot at juniors?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I think we were around about 10 maybe. I remember we played, like, in Gosling on, like, a green clay in a bubble kind of in Gosling, and we played there for the first time. Maybe it was green ball, or maybe it was just transitioning into yellow ball. I remember that match, actually.

We traveled a lot, and we did play some cool matches, under 12, under 14, and then kind of got a little bit -- he kind of went, like, way higher than me. I went the college path. He kind of shot up, and then I went a different direction.

We still kept in touch on the odd occasion, so yeah.

Q. Who won that match that you are talking about?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I think I did. I think I did. I can't remember the score, but I'm pretty sure I did because I think I remember his dad saying to my mom that he was going to make sure he got some clay court lessons after the match (smiling) . So I remember it, yeah.

Q. Did Jack have a bit of a reputation when you were kids? Certainly from sort of hearing, it seemed like he was a name that people were talking about. Was he kind of regarded as...

JACOB FEARNLEY: For sure, everyone knew he was an insane talent. Yeah, obviously. Since he was probably the age -- I don't even know -- 14, 15 you were hearing he was doing great results in the juniors. Then was transitioning really well to the pro tour. Obviously now he's 14 in the world or something like that. He's doing exceptional.

I don't think it comes as any surprise to anyone how well he's doing, for sure.

Q. When you went on the college path, did you always believe that a result like this was still possible in your future? Did you ever doubt it?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I think so. Obviously you don't expect. When you first go to college, that's not really what you set out straight out of the gate as soon as you leave, but obviously I went to college because I still wanted to play professional tennis afterwards, but I just didn't feel ready physically, emotionally.

So I always wanted to play pro, and I always believed that college tennis was the right path for me, and TCU was the right place for me in order to achieve those goals. I think everyone has their own path, and I went down the TCU college route.

Yeah, I think it was the best thing for me. Hopefully I'm showing some people, and other college players are showing players that it is a valuable path to go, and it does actually produce pro players. It can transition extremely well to the pro tour.

Q. At the end of the match I saw you put the towel over your head and got emotional. Just what was going through your mind?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I mean, yeah, I was extremely, extremely nervous because I started hitting some double faults. I really didn't want to serve out the match. So I was kind of just taking a bit of time just to decompress and kind of take it all in because, yeah, it was a little bit emotional.

I don't think I cried, but I was definitely close. Then I kind of held it together, yeah.

Q. You've seen a lot of Zverev playing. What do you think of his game, and how can you maybe try and disrupt him?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I've watched a lot of Zverev and admire his game immensely. I saw him play Norrie at Wimbledon this year, and it was an incredible match.

I never really seen him play live, and I was, like, He's an amazing tennis player. You kind of don't really, like, really get a grasp of it until you actually see it live.

Yeah, he was incredible, and obviously he's still pretty young actually, and he's been seven, eight years at the top of the game. Yeah, incredible tennis player, and I'm really excited that I'll get a chance to play one of the biggest names in tennis.

Yeah, yeah, it's really, really cool.