Edinburgh tennis pro Jacob Fearnley can take confidence looking ahead to the Miami Masters (March 15-29) from taking world No 7 Taylor Fritz to a deciding set in the second round of the Indian Wells tournament.
Fearnley lost 6-3, 6-7, 6-1 saving four match points in the second set.
Afterwards, he said; “My levels in practice are always good but when it comes to the match court I am definitely a bit in and out with my consistency.
“That is going to come the more I get myself out in front of these top players.
“I am improving most days, so hopefully I can just carry on doing what I do with the right attitude and give myself the best chance of going a long way in these events.”
Jacob had gone into the tournament desperately needing to arrest a decline and it came in his opening tie when he defeated Bosnian Damir Dzumhur, albeit this world No 65 has been in something of a slump himself.
That win though is expected to earn sufficient ranking points to push Jacob back into the world’s top 80 and easing the need to qualify for the major events including for the 96 strong Miami field.
Priority continues to be improving his second serve which has apparently been attracting informed commentary along the lines that his body sometimes falls slightly to the left so that timing can be out.
Meanwhile, a coach closer to home has commented that the main issue is getting more spin and therefore control on Jacob’s second serve.
Fritz, who won the Indian Wells tournament in 2024, acknowledged that Fearnley had pushed him hard, saying:
“It was a tough match ,,, he played really well.”
