- Jacob Fearley faces Nick Kyrgios in Australian Open first round
- The 23-year-old has played just five matches at the tour level after recently graduating from college.
- This year's Australian Open is Kyrgios' first Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open
Jacob Fearnley admits he is looking forward with some trepidation to the dubious pleasure of being the straight man to prankster Nick Kyrgios.
The 23-year-old Scot will face the great disruptor in Monday night's session match at the rowdy John Cain Stadium, not before 8am UK time. It will be a good way to make his debut at the Australian Open.
“It was definitely a little anxiety,” he said of his reaction to the tie. “It's not the kind of game you want to see in Australia. I know the crowd will be against me.
“There was a lot of emotion, because it is not an ordinary match, but also a little nervousness.
'The best thing I can do is enjoy it and embrace it. I'm still pretty early in my career. “To have an opportunity and experience like this is really cool.”
This will be only Fearnley's sixth match at circuit level and it is fair to say that he has not found anything on the Challenger circuit that remotely compares to what awaits him. But he has other experience to draw on: Fearnley got his start in the Wild West of college tennis in the United States and hopes that will serve him well.
Jacob Fearnley will make his Australian Open debut in just the fifth match of his tour-level career.
Nick Kyrgios has not played a Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open due to injury problems
Fearnley admitted he is juggling feelings of excitement and nervousness ahead of the matchup.
“It's going to be a little more (lively) than university, but as close as possible,” said the world number 86, a recent graduate of Texas Christian University. 'I hope some of my experiences at university will help me on Monday.
'I've been in some pretty hostile environments, had some nasty things thrown my way. You just have to ignore it and move on.'
Kyrgios is a polarizing figure but Fearnley believes he plays an important role in the game.
“I'm a big fan,” he said. “There are some people who don't agree with what he does, but I think it's great for the sport. It increases viewership. It puts people in the seats.
“And aside from how he is off the court, he does incredible things on the court.”
Indeed, he does, but this is the 29-year-old Australian's first Grand Slam since the 2022 US Open and he is recovering from an abdominal injury. Kyrgios' game will be as rusty as Fearnley's is polished after an incredible year that saw him rise from 650th in the rankings.
The Briton has a good chance of causing a surprise, but to achieve this he must face not only Kyrgios but 10,000 beer establishments.