AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 17, 2026

Jacob Fearnley

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How are you feeling, a new season and the Australian Open?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I feel good. It's great to be back. Had a good year here last year. Yeah, love Australia. Australia has been really nice to me so far. Yeah, I'm excited to start the year here.

Q. I've not seen you since the US Open. I remember at the US Open the serve was something you had been struggling with and were looking to work on. Tell us how much you have been working on that, what you have done, and where you think that part of your game is at.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, no, for sure. It's still definitely, definitely a working progress. We don't know how it's holding up until you are in tough situations.

Yeah, no, I've been working hard on it. Yeah, it's definitely the biggest work on. I didn't expect it to change overnight, but, yeah, I'm doing everything I can to improve that part of my game.

Q. Has it been a technical thing or more mental or a combination of both?

JACOB FEARNLEY: A bit to be both, to be honest. I would say a little bit more technical than anything. Obviously it's a very mental game, so there's a mental aspect on it as well, for sure.

Q. Are there any specifics about the technical...

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I mean, obviously trying to improve my kick serve really. That was the main thing. I wasn't really using that too much. I was trying to add it in as a bit of a variety, whatever, and just try and increase the confidence on that, but yeah...

Q. You had some high-profile matches here last year. Are you happy to have a more a low-key first round or do you like the big occasions?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I don't really know to be honest. I didn't really think about it. Yeah, I'm happy to be playing Kamil. Yeah, we probably won't be on a big court, if that's what you mean. Like, Kamil is a great player.

Yes, I don't think it would be like what it was last year, which is nice. Yeah, no, I have to play whoever is in front of me.

Q. Have you played him before?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I think I did. Like a year and a bit ago. I played him in Stockholm. It was a close match.

Q. Last year everything was a new experience. I wonder how does it feel a year later? You have been here before, you've done this one.

JACOB FEARNLEY: It's nice to come to tournaments and almost be familiar with where everything is, practice. And for myself it's great. Also for my team it's a lot easier to kind of navigate around the place. You do feel a bit more comfortable.

Like where I'm staying, I'm staying in the same place I did last year because it was really nice. Yeah, generally you feel a little bit more relaxed on site. So, no, it's great.

Q. How difficult is it to change such a fundamental part of your game at this stage of your career?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, it's tough. I mean players and myself are constantly working on tweaking things. I mean it's not like I'm completely restructuring the shot. I'm open to it. If things aren't working, you look to change it as best you can. And, yeah, that's all I'm trying to do.

All I'm trying to do is to get better, and that's the goal. Whether it gets better now or in a year, I'm trying to be positive and keep improving.

Q. The first day was quite good. More the second?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, more the second. But I feel, yeah, it kind of has an aspect on my whole game as well. You know when you're not feeling good with a certain shot, it kind of knocks onto other parts of your game. Obviously the serve is very important.

Yeah, trying not to pay too much attention to it and, yeah, focus on the strengths.

Q. Did you have a party court booking last year?

JACOB FEARNLEY: What?

Q. Were you on the party court?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Oh, the bar. But it's a bit different this year.

Q. It's a bit more court and less bar?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, they put a stand so it's not as many people, like, on the court.

Q. That's right, yeah.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, there was some... Yeah, that was a fun environment (laughter).

Q. Really?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I liked it. Most of my supporters were on the floor, or on the court next to me.

Q. Not literally?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, not literally. But one of them was (smiling).

It was a cool match. If I can get on that court again, that would be pretty cool.

Q. Would you ask for it?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, I wouldn't. And I don't think they would listen to me. I'm quite low down the pecking order in terms of asking for courts.

Q. As a player coming here, do you enjoy things different? 1 Pont Slam, as well.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, the Australian Open, I've said it, obviously I have a soft spot for Wimbledon, but I think it's one of the best tournaments of the year. I think the fan interactions, all the stuff they are doing behind the scenes.

I know they have added exhibitions, a bit more exhibitions this year. Yeah, they're obviously trying to do more things to make it more fun for the players and also for the fans.

I think there's a nice buzz around the grounds, around the locker room. And I think, yeah, it's a great tournament.

Q. Do you still get player gift bags and stuff when you arrive?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah. I'm yet to collect it, but we do get. I have seen a couple of players, and it looks pretty cool. It's just like a big room, and usually they give a selection of things. Yeah, excited to get that stuff later.

Q. Weird stuff, or what sort of...

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, not weird stuff. I mean, I heard that a lot of it is skin care stuff this year, so yeah (smiling.)

Q. There was one year where Elena Baltacha got a pair of knickers. It was all one-size-fits-all.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Oh wow. That's interesting.

Q. They changed it?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I hope so.

Q. Have you been in touch with Jack?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, I haven't, actually. No, I haven't really. I wasn't really back in the UK that much, to be honest. Yeah, I haven't spoken to him.

Q. Did you do the off-season in Texas?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, I did five days in London, then I did Texas and in Florida. That's where I did it. My coach lives there. And obviously I like TCU. So I just did it, yeah, decided to do it there.

Q. No other ATP players around or...

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah, in Florida there is a lot. A lot of the American players live out there. Like Tommy Paul, Frances, Kovacevic, Ethan. All of them, other than Taylor, Learner are living in California.

Q. Is that near Orlando?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, in Boca. Like Delray Beach, Boca, Fort Lauderdale, that area.

Q. You're say staying in the same hotel, same place?

JACOB FEARNLEY: Yeah.

Q. Are you superstitious or is that because it is nice?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, it was just really nice. It's near Albert Park and it's really nice. A nice view over the park and, like, you can see the sea in the distance, so it's really nice.

Q. You are a golfer, Albert Park?

JACOB FEARNLEY: I would like to, but the last couple of times I've played golf I have hurt my back, so I'm keeping than on stand, especially this close to the tournament.

But I love golf. Yeah, I think the problem is I need to play more so I get used to it. Because I'll play like two months and then hurt my back, if I kind of get used to the movement. But that's for another...

Q. Have you picked it up recently or always played it?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, I played it as a kid. I lived right next to a golf course. So, yeah, I would go down there and do lessons and stuff. I like golf a lot. It's fun.

Q. What is your handicap?

JACOB FEARNLEY: No, I just like hitting the ball. I'm not, like, a player. I mean, I've gone around the course maybe, like, 12 times. I like hitting the ball. If you ask me to hit the ball, I'm okay. But an actual golf player, I'm not great, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Okay, thank you everyone.

JACOB FEARNLEY: Thanks.