Couch to Centre Court - Fearnley eyes Djokovic shock

A week earlier his 12th birthday, Jacob Fearnley sat connected nan sofa astatine location successful Edinburgh, gripped by tv sum of nan 2013 Wimbledon final.

The aspiring tennis subordinate watched Scottish leader Andy Murray extremity Britain's 77-year hold for a men's singles champion - a immense infinitesimal of nationalist sporting significance.

"I do remember. I was glued to nan couch. I didn't move," Fearnley recalls.

Now, 11 years later, Fearnley is preparing to measurement retired connected to Centre Court conscionable arsenic Murray did and look nan aforesaid force - Novak Djokovic.

Fearnley, 22, was classed extracurricular of nan world's apical 500 a small much than a period ago.

But his stunning shape has led to a plum necktie against 24-time awesome champion Djokovic successful nan Wimbledon 2nd information connected Thursday.

"I've watched him connected TV countless times. What he has done for nan sport, nan measurement he plays and what he’s been capable to execute is remarkable," says Fearnley, who is now 277th successful nan rankings.

"It will beryllium daunting but much benignant of weird to spot him crossed nan net. He’s decidedly 1 of my idols.

"If I tin play half of his level, I'll beryllium happy."

Six weeks ago, Fearnley near Texas Christian University (TCU) successful nan USA pinch a grade successful kinesiology - nan study of quality movement.

Now he is putting each his power into his full-time tennis career.

"I ever wanted to spell to nan States. I was ever a spot physically underdeveloped and schoolhouse was a large point – my parents wanted maine to person thing to autumn backmost connected if tennis didn’t work," Fearnley says.

"I besides didn’t consciousness fresh mentally to play tennis.

"I wanted 5 years to create my game, create arsenic a person, socialise and meet caller people.

"I'm really happy I made that determination because it has really helped my tennis and maine arsenic a person."

After signing disconnected from assemblage pinch a squad occurrence for TCU successful nan NCAA National Championships, he headed location for nan British grass-court play and has enjoyed nan champion results of his profession connected nan master circuit.

Fearnley won nan Nottingham Open past period for his maiden title connected nan second-tier ATP Challenger Tour.

And past he was rewarded pinch a wildcard for nan main tie astatine nan All England Club.

He was backmost connected dada Craig's sofa erstwhile Leon Smith, nan caput of British men's tennis, rang to show him nan bully news.

"My dada didn’t judge maine astatine first. It was a really cool moment," said Fearnley.

Things person sewage moreover much unbelievable since.

Fearnley said he "froze" watching Friday's tie arsenic he realised he was 1 of 3 names near that could beryllium pitted against Djokovic successful nan first round.

Instead, he was picked retired to look Spanish qualifier Alejandro Moro Canas.

That near Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva facing Djokovic - but knowing he could perchance play 1 of nan sport's all-time greats acted arsenic information for Fearnley.

After beating Moro Canas, nan British number 13 admitted to taking sneaky glances astatine nan people successful Djokovic's match.

"Playing Djokovic successful nan 2nd round, aft you’ve had a information to easiness in, gives maine a small spot much assurance and little nerves going into it," he said.

"How do I hit him? I don't deliberation galore group person nan reply to that! I person nary idea.

"It doesn't look for illustration there's galore flaws successful his game. I'm going to conscionable effort and bask it, put my crippled retired connected nan tribunal and spot what happens."