Jacob Fearnley admitted he was baffled by a supporter who appeared to turn against him mid-match during his breakthrough victory at the US Open.
The 24-year-old Scot claimed the biggest win of his career on Tuesday, defeating Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 7-5, 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 in a rollercoaster encounter that lasted more than three hours.
It was Fearnley’s first ever main-draw victory at Flushing Meadows, but the match was given an odd twist by one particularly vocal spectator.
For much of the contest, the fan positioned behind the baseline had cheered Fearnley on enthusiastically.
Jacob Fearnley admitted he was baffled by a supporter who appeared to turn against him mid-match during his breakthrough victory at the US Open
|REUTERS
Yet after the Briton faltered while serving for the third set at 5-4, the mood suddenly shifted.
“When I lost the service game at 5-4 in the third he completely turned – I couldn’t believe it,” Fearnley explained afterwards.
“I wanted to say something. He switched quick.
"It wasn’t abuse, just confusing and extremely loud. He didn’t say a nice thing after that.”
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Despite the distraction and a series of serving struggles, Fearnley kept his composure long enough to seal the biggest win of his career and secure a place in round two, where he will face third seed Alexander Zverev.
The result also ensured Britain avoided a complete opening-day wipeout after Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal, Fran Jones and Billy Harris all fell at the first hurdle.
“I’m pretty tired right now,” Fearnley admitted after the victory.
“I don’t really know what to make of it. Obviously to get over the line is really good.
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Jacob Fearnley beats Roberto Bautista Agut 🇬🇧🚨 pic.twitter.com/d94bf2oVpw
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"I was playing great the first two sets and then got a little bit nervous, and Roberto makes you earn it.
"When you’re nervous, that’s going to have its effect.”
The nerves were most obvious on serve. Fearnley was broken three times in the third set alone and finished the match with 18 double faults, eight of them coming in that single set.
Many of the mistakes came at the worst possible moments.
“I think it’s definitely nerves,” he said.
“Obviously you’re going to double fault, you’re never not going to double fault, but 18, that’s too much.
"If you look at when the double faults are happening, it’s when I’m serving for the match, serving to stay in the set. It’s at the highest tension moments.
“It’s helpful to know that even hitting all those double faults I can still win the match. That’s a positive.
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Jacob Fearnley was too strong for Roberto Bautista Agut in their US Open clash
|REUTERS
"There’s good days, there’s bad days. In recent big matches, the double faults have been a little bit of an issue.”
The Scot, currently ranked outside the world’s top 100, now faces the daunting challenge of taking on Zverev in round two. He has already met the German twice this season, at the Australian Open and in Miami. He is yet to take a set from him, however, meaning the odds aren't in his favour.