Jacob Fearnley: How the British tennis star rose from Texas Christian College to the ATP Tour high 100

A transfer to the US had lengthy been on Fearnley’s radar, and learning at TCU – the place fellow Brits Cameron Norrie and Alastair Grey have been first college students – appeared just like the logical selection.

“I used to be at all times underdeveloped bodily and faculty was a giant factor – my dad and mom wished me to have one thing to fall again on if volleyball did not work out,” Fearnley mentioned.

“I did not really feel mentally able to play tennis both. I wished 5 years to enhance my sport, develop as an individual, combine with individuals and meet new individuals.”

When Fearnley arrived at TCU, the teaching employees on the ‘Frogs’ noticed the shy 18-year-old initially maintain again on the court docket on account of reluctance.

The atmosphere of US faculty tennis – all of the noise, trash speaking and group bonding – just isn’t for the faint of coronary heart.

“Faculty tennis is a really emotional kind of tennis. There’s plenty of vitality from gamers and different groups,” Devin Bowen, TCU’s assistant males’s tennis coach, advised BBC Sport.

“It was an excellent place for Jake as a result of it examined him, it is a good alternative to develop, construct character and know who he’s.

“It is enjoyable and plenty of enjoyable. But it surely may also be actually brutal.”

Fearnley at all times had “one thing particular” however wanted time to belief his capability, in keeping with former ATP doubles participant Bowen.

Lastly he did.

5 years in Fort Value introduced quite a few particular person and group honors, culminating in TCU’s first males’s tennis nationwide title.

“His thoughts was typically overpowered,” Bowen mentioned.

“5 minutes earlier than the sport he would say ‘I can not discover a grip on my brow. Every part is falling aside’.

“I might say ‘you’ll quiet down, your thoughts is enjoying methods on you’.”

“Now you’ve gotten the data, and a bit little bit of knowledge, to know that is what the thoughts does earlier than huge video games.”