Australian Open: Jacob Fearnley's impressive debut run ends with Alexander Zverev defeat
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Jacob Fearnley's fine Australian Open debut ended with a straight-sets loss to second seed Alexander Zverev in the third round. The Scot continues to take the upper levels of the professional game comfortably in his stride and he did not look out of place against one of the tournament favourites on Margaret Court Arena.
But he could not maintain any sustained pressure on Zverev, who wrapped up a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory in two hours and two minutes. Fearnley struck marginally more winners, with his forehand causing Zverev consistent problems, but there were also 34 unforced errors compared to only 15 for the German.
It has nevertheless been an excellent week for Fearnley, who defeated Nick Kyrgios and the Australian crowd in the first round before coming from a set down to see off Arthur Cazaux in round two. Less than eight months into his professional tennis career, Fearnley will break into the world's top 80 after the tournament, and he is certain to go higher with no ranking points to defend until June.
The 23-year-old acquitted himself very well facing Novak Djokovic on his Grand Slam debut at Wimbledon last year, taking a set off the Serbian and nearly forcing a decider. He was unable to make any inroads on the Zverev serve in the opening set here, which was decided by one break in the sixth game.
The Scot then took a medical timeout off court for a problem that was not immediately apparent but stepped up his aggression at the start of the second set. He forced two break points in the second game but could not take either, and fortune went against him at 3-3 when Zverev broke through again after a shot off the netcord put Fearnley in a difficult position.
