Jacob Fearnley: Scot out of Australian Open after straight-sets loss to second seed Alexander Zverev
Jacob Fearnley exited the Australian Open with a straight-sets defeat to Alexander Zverev; Carlos Alcaraz downed Portugal's Nuno Borges 6-2 6-4 6-7 (7-3) 6-2; watch action from the ATP and WTA Tours on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports+, NOW and the Sky Sports app
Friday 17 January 2025 14:28, UK
Jacob Fearnley's fine Australian Open debut ended with a straight-sets loss to second seed Alexander Zverev in the third round.
The Scot continues to take the upper levels of the professional game comfortably in his stride and he did not look out of place against one of the tournament favourites on Margaret Court Arena.
But he could not maintain any sustained pressure on Zverev, who wrapped up a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory in two hours and two minutes.
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Fearnley struck marginally more winners, with his forehand causing Zverev consistent problems, but there were also 34 unforced errors compared to only 15 for the German.
It has nevertheless been an excellent week for Fearnley, who defeated Nick Kyrgios and the Australian crowd in the first round before coming from a set down to see off Arthur Cazaux in round two.
"I thought I played some good tennis, some good moments, some low moments," said Fearnley. "I don't think there was too much in it. Just a few points here and there.
"I think that's what those top guys do so well. They keep composed, and their base level just stays the same throughout the whole match. Mine went quite up and down, which I think is what cost me the match.
"He's [Zverev] extremely solid, and obviously he's got a massive serve. He chooses the right opportunities to go for the ball.
"I think for me that will come with experience, just knowing when to maybe go for it and maybe when just to play solid. I thought I missed some balls by such small margins. That's enough."
Less than eight months into his professional tennis career, Fearnley will break into the world's top 80 after the tournament, and he is certain to go higher with no ranking points to defend until June.
The 23-year-old acquitted himself very well facing Novak Djokovic on his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon last year, taking a set off the Serb and nearly forcing a decider.
He was unable to make any inroads on the Zverev serve in the opening set here, which was decided by one break in the sixth game.
The Scot then took a medical timeout off court for a problem that was not immediately apparent but stepped up his aggression at the start of the second set.
He forced two break points in the second game but could not take either, and fortune went against him at 3-3 when Zverev broke through again after a shot off the netcord put Fearnley in a difficult position.
Fearnley was not deterred, though, and broke straight back after again seizing the initiative in a long baseline rally.
"It's a big confidence boost, knowing that I can compete against some of the best players in the world, it's really cool to see," Fearnley added.
"He's number two in the world, he's probably playing some of the best tennis on the planet right now. So, to have that experience, I learned a lot about my game, about what I need to do better."
That elicited the first bit of emotion from the composed 23-year-old, who pumped his fist, with Zverev dropping serve for the first time all tournament.
Zverev also faced a British player on the same court last year, finally battling past Fearnley's fellow Texas Christian University alumnus Cameron Norrie in a fifth-set tie-break.
But Fearnley's hopes of pulling off something similar suffered a major blow when he was broken again, double-faulting at 15-30 and then netting a volley.
It was a let-off for Zverev, and the pattern repeated itself early in the third set when Fearnley dropped serve, broke back - prompting the German to rant at his coaching box - only to lose his serve once more.
Fearnley did well to hold serve thereafter but Zverev avoided any further alarms.
Afterwards, the second seed praised his opponent, saying: "I think he's an incredible player, he went through all the stages. I've massive respect for him, and the effort that he's put into the sport, and he's going to get better I think over the next few years."
Alcaraz advances past Borges
Carlos Alcaraz lost his first set of the tournament but the third seed still managed to power through the third round as he downed Portugal's Nuno Borges 6-2 6-4 6-7 (7-3) 6-2 in just under three hours.
The Spaniard will either face 15th-seeded Jack Draper of Great Britain or home favourite Aleksandar Vukic in the fourth round.
"I missed Rod Laver. I'm just really, really happy to be able to play here once again," Alcaraz said post-match.
"I tried to show my best tennis here. For me, it has been a pleasure every time that I step on this court. The last time that I played here I lost [to Alexander Zverev in the 2024 quarter-finals], so I really wanted to play here and get another win here in Rod Laver."
A break in the opening game set the tone against world No 33 Borges, with Alcaraz dominant on serve from the start, losing just six points on serve in each of the first two sets.
Alcaraz is aiming to complete a career Grand Slam at the Australian Open, having already won Wimbledon twice (2023, 2024) as well as the US Open in 2022 and the French Open last year.
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