“It’s a lifelong dream to represent my country” – Jacob Fearnley on joining the Davis Cup team & the challenge ahead in Japan
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Making your Davis Cup debut is something that every British men’s tennis player dreams of coming through the ranks – none more so than 23-year-old Jacob Fearnley.
Fearnley has had a meteoric rise over the last eight months since graduating from Texas Christian University and going full-time with his tennis career. He won his first event at the Rothesay Open Nottingham in June, before finishing the year with four ATP Challenger Tour trophies, winning his first Grand Slam match at Wimbledon and then breaking into the top 100.
Coming off the back of a third round appearance at the Australian Open, Fearnley has earnt his first call-up to the Lexus GB Davis Cup team and heads to Japan as the top-ranked player in Captain Leon Smith’s side.
“I was in America doing pre-season and Leon called me,” Fearnley recalled. “He said ‘I love doing these phone calls’ and then told me I was in the Davis Cup team.
“It didn’t really sink in straight away. Obviously, it’s really special. You don’t really expect it because it’s a huge privilege and it’s difficult to be selected for Davis Cup.
“I’m very happy. It’s a lifelong dream of mine to represent my country at the Davis Cup and it was just a really cool feeling to get that call.”
In a week of many firsts for the young Briton, Fearnley is soaking in the experience as training in Miki got underway this week.
The now world No.77 is in a unique position this week where, if he was to make his debut and reach LTA Colour Holder status, he would do so as the British team’s No.1 ranked player in the squad.
“I didn’t expect to be the highest ranked player on my debut – it’s a bit strange,” he admitted. “It’s incredible and it does give me a lot of confidence. It means some of the stuff I’ve been doing leading up to it has been working.
“It’s cool and it comes with a little bit of – not pressure – but I just want to enjoy being here and getting the privilege to play. That’s what means a lot to me, playing for GB, hopefully in front of a big crowd.”
While still at the start of his professional tennis career, Fearnley has already picked up many experiences that many players might have to wait years for.
He’s played in front of packed-out crowds for his college in the biggest games of the NCAA Championships. He’s played the most successful player in history on Centre Court at Wimbledon – taking a set off 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic. And most recently, he overcame home favourite Nick Kyrgios in his own back yard in Melbourne.
While the Davis Cup throws up its own challenges, Fearnley feels ready to face whatever comes his way.
“So far it (his transition to the pro tour) has been going great,” he said. “I’ve still got a lot to learn but experiences like what I’m going to have here and at the Grand Slams is all going to help me build my confidence and expose me to playing in front of big crowds in big matches. All that really helps and gives me a lot of confidence.
“It was incredible (the Australian Open). I didn’t know what to expect but the crowds were off the hook. They were intense.
“Playing (Nick) Kyrgios on the John Cain Arena, that’s kind of his court, so that was a really cool experience. That court was a little bigger and I hope the fans were rowdier there than they will be here.
“To have been able to handle that, I can definitely use that to my advantage and manage those hostile crowds. I know what to do and hopefully what to expect in those moments.”
Having just arrived at the Bourbon Bean Arena, where the tie will take place on Friday 31 January to Saturday 1 February, Fearnley has been getting used to the court but also to his teammates.
He joins a new-look British team that includes GB’s most recent debutant Billy Harris and fellow Davis Cup first-timer, Jan Choinski. Alongside the trio of singles stars are two former doubles world No.1s, Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury.
While they might not have spent much time together in the past, Fearnley has been enjoying getting to know his fellow GB stars.
“It’s exciting but there’s always going to be a bit of nerves because everything’s a bit unknown,” he commented on his experience so far. “The more I’m here, the more I’m around the team and everything, it’s becoming a bit more natural.
“The team has been great, Joe and Neal I’m not too close with but they’re such great guys and we’ve been getting on really well. They’re supporting me – they know it’s my first Davis Cup so they’re being really nice to me and learning from those guys is really cool.
“I knew Billy pretty well from the last year or so. He’s a really nice guy and obviously a great player as well.
“I know a lot of the coaches as well, so it’s been great – really great group of people and I feel honoured to be here.”
It’s no secret that Japan come into the tie with a slightly more settled team. Fearnley and the Brits know they are going to need to be at their best come the weekend if the want that spot in the Qualifier second round.
There is one player in particular who the British No.3 has particular memories of, having watched a famous GB Davis Cup tie back in 2016.
“They have a very strong, experienced team,” Fearnley explained. “(Kei) Nishikori has been around the top of the game for a long time so to have him in their team and he’s not even the top-ranked player, that shows how strong they are.
“I did (watch and follow the Davis Cup growing up). When they played at Glasgow, I went to a few of those ones, and I went to the tie when GB played Japan last in Birmingham.
“I saw Andy (Murray) play Nishikori, which was an incredible match. I remember that well and look back on that fondly. It was really incredible tennis.
“They have Nishikori here and that will bring in even more crowds. It will be a great atmosphere, and these are the types of tennis matches that we all want to play.”
Great Britain face Japan in the Davis Cup Qualifier first round from Friday 31 January to Saturday 1 February.
Matches start at 4:00 UK time on Friday morning and 3:00 on Saturday.
You can watch the tie live exclusively on the Tennis Channel.
For a limited time, you can get a monthly subscription to the Tennis Channel for less than £1 per month by using the code ‘LTA10’ on sign-up.
