ROLAND GARROS

May 26, 2025

Jacob Fearnley

Press Conference

J. FEARNLEY/S. Wawrinka

7-6, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Jacob, can you talk about how the conditions were out there for you today.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, no, it was difficult. Crowd were definitely on Stan's side. Rightly so. I kind of expected that going in. I knew it was going to be a tough crowd.

Obviously that court kind of feels quite close. But no, I really enjoyed it. Some tough moments. Yeah, I can definitely sit here and say it was a great day, for sure.

Q. You got the Scottish revenge for Andy. How was it generally facing Stan?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I mean, definitely it felt different. Yeah, I mean, Stan, those big guys, those guys that have been very successful on the tour, they have that kind of aura about them in a way.

I knew it was going to be a tough match. It's difficult, for sure, playing in front of the crowd always screaming his name. Yeah, it's not easy.

I really enjoyed it, to be honest. I think part of the battle was just not letting that kind of get to my head and not letting his name and his caliber of tennis get into my head. Just focus on myself really.

Q. Was anything being screamed at you that you can repeat in here?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, actually. A lot of it was in French. There was 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 (smiling).

Q. You've played a number of high-profile opponents now. Did that get easier, feel more comfortable than previously?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yes, definitely. I've said it before: I think the more I get exposed to playing these players, playing in these environments, the better that I get handling them. That's just kind of how it works, is the more you expose yourself to situations, the more comfortable it feels, the less kind of foreign it feels.

Today stepping out on the court I was definitely nervous. Yeah, I think if a year ago I was put in the same situation, I don't think I would have handled it as well as I did today, for sure.

Q. If it is Ugo Humbert in the next round, talk about that. Also the fact that you played Kyrgios in Australia, you have experience of being shouted at.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, no, that would be cool. I mean, I saw I might play him. I kind of knew it would be a tough match. Yeah, like you said, played Kyrgios in Australia, that was really difficult at times. That was loud. That was a bit obnoxious, for sure.

Yeah, honestly I enjoy the environments. As long as they keep speaking French, I don't understand what they're saying. That helps, as well (smiling).

Q. (No microphone.)

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, maybe. Yeah, I mean, I joke around with my team a lot that that's kind of the matches that I've been attracting. We always say it's good problems to have. I mean, the fact that I'm getting to play these matches is really cool. Exposing myself to difficult environments, to environments that are going to happen. You don't often get to practice in them too often and replicate them. To get the opportunity is great.

Q. How much can you block it out, especially with Kyrgios? How much do you use it to fuel you, motivate you?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I don't really use it as fuel, to be honest, unless obviously they start saying kind of personal stuff. That's never really been the case. It's been loud all the matches I played. They've been loud.

And Cazaux, the French fans were really loud. In Australia they were really loud. I've never really felt it was unfair in a sense. I just felt they were very much supporting their player. That's fine.

I mean, it was the same when I was playing Djokovic in Wimbledon. They wanted me to win. Maybe not quite as much as the Australian fans wanted Kyrgios to win. Still, I just kind of expect it.

Yeah, I mean, you see the way I act on the court. I never really react angry or anything like that. I kind of just expect it and, yeah, move on.

Q. Your ankle braces, what are the origins of those? You mentioned them in Rome. You did your ankle a bit. Did you have ankle injuries?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Madrid.

Q. Did you have any injuries in the past?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, in college I tore my posterior tib like four years ago. I started wearing an ankle brace on my left side. Then on my right side I just kept rolling it. I just felt it was a matter of time before I do something serious. I just felt more comfortable moving with the braces on.

Yeah, that's kind of it. I had kind of one serious injury, which I used the brace for. Then I've just kind of used them ever since.

Q. Do you have to do extra exercises with them since you're wearing them?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, a little bit. For example, after I rolled my ankle in Madrid, I upped the intensity of the ankle exercises, especially on that right side. But usually it's just kind of monitoring it. I'll do warm-up exercises for it. It's not really too in-depth.

The reason I use the ankle braces is so that I have that support. I don't really go too deep into it. My ankles feel great. There's not a problem there. It's more of a precautionary thing, a trust thing.

Q. Obviously a few questions about these atmospheres that you've been playing in. Looking ahead to the grass season, it will reverse. Do you think you've had a lot of practice now with keeping things under wraps and keeping cool on the court? Will you have to relearn and change that to start to use the crowd to your advantage?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yes, that's a good question.

I haven't really thought about it, to be honest. Yeah, I don't really think there's really been a match that I can remember where I've had the majority crowd support, to be honest.

Yeah, I guess it will be a little bit of a different feeling. Obviously playing at home, it comes with different expectations, especially when there's maybe a little bit more hype.

But yeah, that's something that, again, it will be a new experience. Yes, I'm looking forward to that, for sure. All learning experiences.

Q. A word on O'Connell, your other potential opponent. I think you played him once before in quallies. How much do you know about him?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I played him in Basel I think first-round quallies. It was a good match. I think I scraped it like 6-4 in the third, something like that. Obviously another great player. He's been top hundred. Very consistent for a long time.

Yeah, so I think whichever opponent I play, they'll both pose different challenges. Yeah, I'm just happy to be in the second round, have another match.

Q. Any special meaning to the fluorescent yellow kit? You wouldn't get run over in the streets. Something new for Nike?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I'm not too sure, to be honest. Like the adidas kit that we used in, like, before this event was fluorescent yellow shorts and then black top. I think they've just kind of reversed it. That's kind of what they've done.

I don't really think there's anything behind it. They just kind of pick what they want to wear, then we just wear it.

Q. Do you like it?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I do like it, actually. I wasn't really sure how it was going to be. I do quite like it. I haven't worn a collar in a long time. That was a bit new. Yeah, I quite like it. You guys tell me.

Q. Are you superstitious with your clothes?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Not really, to be honest. I started wearing a sleeve today, though. I used to wear a sleeve like last year. I just thought I'd wear it. Other than that, nothing. Just thought I looked good in the mirror.