In a result that has sent shockwaves through Flushing Meadows, British wildcard Jacob Fearnley produced the performance of his life to stun fourth seed Alexander Zverev in a breathtaking five-set thriller on his US Open main-draw debut.
The 22-year-old Scot, ranked a lowly 391st in the world, displayed nerves of steel and a ferocious all-court game to topple the recent Olympic champion and French Open finalist 3-6, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(4) in a gruelling contest that lasted over three hours on Court 4.
A Debut to Remember
Fearnley, who only turned professional in June after a stellar collegiate career at Texas Christian University, was playing in just his second Grand Slam match after a first-round exit at Wimbledon. The magnitude of the challenge was immense, facing a player contending for the world No. 1 ranking.
After dropping the first set, Fearnley showcased remarkable resilience, battling back to level the match. Though Zverev reclaimed control to take the third set, the Briton refused to fade away.
The Fightback and Final Set Drama
Digging deep, Fearnley broke the German's serve in the fifth game of the fourth set, unleashing a stunning backhand pass to seize the initiative. He held his nerve to force a decisive fifth set, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The final set was a nail-biting affair, with both players holding serve under immense pressure, leading to a match-deciding tie-break. It was there that Fearnley's fearless approach shone brightest. He raced to a 4-1 lead and, despite a late push from Zverev, closed out the victory on his first match point with a colossal forehand winner, collapsing to the court in disbelief and euphoria.
Reactions and What's Next
The victory marks one of the most significant upsets in recent US Open history and is undoubtedly the biggest win of Fearnley's nascent career. The result echoes the giant-killing feats of his compatriot Emma Raducanu's 2021 triumph and adds another glorious chapter to British tennis.
Fearnley now advances to the second round where he will face another formidable opponent, former world No. 3 Dominic Thiem of Austria. Based on this performance, he will fear no one.
