Fearnley’s startling rise doing justice to Murray legacy

On the red dirt of Roland Garros, a young man making his debut at the French Open is making an increasingly big noise. Read further on Dynamite News

Post Published By: Karan Sharma

Updated : 30 May 2025, 4:02 PM IST

Fearnley’s startling rise doing justice to Murray legacy

Paris: On the red dirt of Roland Garros, a young man making his debut at the French Open is making an increasingly big noise amid the quiet revolution in Scottish tennis., reports Dynamite News correspondent.

Edinburgh's Jacob Fearnley is poised to break into the world's top 50 - he is projected to slot in at number 48 when it is next published - after defeating home favourite Ugo Humbert on Thursday.

His win, secured when his opponent retired hurt with the Scot one set up, has set up the tantalising prospect of an all-Scottish tie in Paris between Fearnley and Cameron Norrie.

It means Scotland will have a player in the fourth round, and he will likely face Novak Djokovic.

For Fearnley, it has already been a successful debut at Roland Garros. Getting past Humbert means he has reached the third round in back-to-back majors, having had a terrific start to the year in Australia, the BBC reported.

His first French Open has proved another significant step into the rarefied air of the sport's elite, breathed by only one male Scottish-born player before him.

Questions have been asked about an Andy Murray legacy. Fearnley is helping deliver some answers.

Murray first cracked the top 50 in February 2006 and stayed there for 12 years, winning three Grand Slams, two Olympic golds, and a Davis Cup along the way.

His part in the 'Big Four' with Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic was marked on the Philippe Chatrier court this week when the band got back together to honour the Spaniard's extraordinary achievements in that hallowed arena.

It is nearly a decade since Murray became world number one. In the years since, doubts persisted about what Scottish tennis was doing to make hay while Dunblane's finest was in the sun.

It has taken time, patience, and money. Finally, however, serious progress is being made and Fearnley is its embodiment.

A year ago, he was not even in the top 500. He started 2024 ranked 646th. It's one of the fastest rises since the current system came into place.

He has also made a dent on some big-name players: Nick Kyrgios on his home court in Melbourne; former French Open champion Stan Wawrinka in Paris; taking a set off Djokovic on Centre Court at Wimbledon last year.

It is clear Fearnley now feels totally at home on the big stage.

"I really enjoyed it," he said of the straight sets win over Wawrinka in the first round. "I think part of the battle was just not letting his name and his calibre of tennis get into my head. Just focus on myself really.

"I think the more I get exposed to playing these players, in these environments, the better I get handling them. The more you expose yourself to situations, the less foreign it feels."

Fearnley is no stranger to it now. The 23-year-old is timing his run to the top in a period of great promise for the British game.

His childhood friend, Jack Draper, has catapulted himself into the world top five and is now a serious contender for every tournament he enters.

Fellow Scot Norrie arrested a worrying dip in form - the South Africa-born 29-year-old dropping from
a career-high eight in the world to 81 - with a season-changing victory over Daniil Medvedev to reach the second round.

Meanwhile, Katie Boulter and Emma Raducanu are both in or around the women's top 40 and will be big threats to anyone on the grass in the coming weeks.

They all looked up to Murray and were inspired by his achievements and work ethic.

None more so than Fearnley, who came through the tennis academy at Merchiston Castle school before honing his skills on the American college circuit.

Location :

Paris

Published :

30 May 2025, 4:02 PM IST

Topics :

Edinburgh's Jacob

french

Roland Garros

Scottish tennis

Ugo Humbert

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Fearnley’s startling rise doing justice to Murray legacy