Tennis’ new generation is making its mark on the sport. While Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner lead the way in the Grand Slam conversation, other names are beginning to gain attention in the rankings. Among them is Scottish player Jacob Fearnley, who aims to follow in the footsteps of fellow countryman Andy Murray.
Fearnley’s tennis story started in his grandparents’ large backyard, where he began hitting volleys by the age of five. His talent took him to Texas Christian University (TCU), where he majored in kinesiology and became a four-time ITA All-American, standing out as one of the top players in college tennis.
His time at TCU wasn’t without setbacks, as injuries (including a stress reaction in his rib and a torn posterior tibialis) slowed his progress. Still, he helped his team win a national championship in his final year. Since turning pro in 2024, he has claimed four titles on the ATP Challenger circuit. Here’s what to know about this rising talent.
How old is Fearnly? Age and height
Fearnley, born on July 15, 2001, in Worcester, United Kingdom, is a 23-year-old professional tennis player. Standing at 6 feet (183 cm) tall and weighing 176 pounds (80 kg), he plays right-handed.
Fearnley played at the 2024 Wimbledon Championships (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
Best ranking so far
His career-high ranking is World No. 77 (2025.01.27). However, he is currently World No. 88 in the world.
see also
He made Andre Agassi cry, faced one of tennis’ biggest fines, and his wife hit a judge in 1995
Who are his parents?
According to the ATP Tour website, His mother, Samantha, was a human resources manager at the National Health Service, and his father, Craig, worked for Johnson Controls. Both are now retired.
When did he start playing tennis?
Per the ATP Tour, he began playing tennis at a very young age in his grandparents’ large back garden. He first played with a table tennis bat and ball around the age of two and was hitting volleys by age five.
Career highlights so far
He defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner in the juniors, practiced with Roger Federer at Wimbledon as a junior, became a four-time ITA All-American at TCU, and was a two-time qualifier for the ATP Next Gen Accelerator. In his final year at TCU, he helped his team win the national championship.
His education
He spent five years at Texas Christian University (TCU), where he played college tennis.
