British tennis is enjoying a real period of prosperity, after many worried about where it was headed.
After all, following Andy Murray’s impending retirement, there seemed to be no one ready to step up and become a true challenger at the apex of the sport.
Fortunately, in Jack Draper, we already have a new top-five player, with stars like Katie Boulter, Emma Raducanu, Jacob Fearnley and Cam Norrie all chomping at the bit to follow in his footsteps.
Their success has been compounded by six of the seven Brits actually making it past round one at Roland Garros, although one of those aforementioned names has since come under fire despite the nature of his victory.
Jacob Fearnley told his French Open outfit should be banned
For Fearnley, his comprehensive performance in his first-round triumph should be the main talking point to celebrate his success.
After all, he brushed aside a three-time Grand Slam champion in Stan Wawrinka, beating the former French Open champion in straight sets.
And yet, just this morning, the TNT Sports panel were instead rather critical.
Fortunately for Fearnley, the critique was aimed at his outfit rather than his tennis, which they did praise eventually.
Anne Keothavong got things started when she claimed: ‘I don’t think it should be allowed. It’s far too bright and you can lose the ball. Nobody needs to be in a top that bright, surely!’
Chris Evert concurred: ‘I don’t mind the brightness but it’s the ball. It feels like it is going to camouflage and hide it, I agree.’
Then, Tim Henman offered his expert opinion: ‘It is just pretty ugly I think!’
Jacob Fearnley has impressed at Roland Garros
His outfit aside, it has been a strong start to life in Paris for the Scotsman.
After all, this is just his fourth time at any Grand Slam event, and his first at the French Open.
And yet, he remained completely unfazed when faced with the prospect of toppling a legend of the sport, showing the 40-year-old Wawrinka no mercy.
Such was the nature of the beatdown, Wawrinka admitted to considering retirement following another first-round loss.
It is also not the first time that the 23-year-old has impressed, or even beaten a well-known opponent, having snagged a set off Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last year, beaten Nick Kyrgios in Australia earlier this year, and also overcome Tomas Machac in Madrid.
This seems like the start of what could be a very prosperous career for Fearnley, who will add another notch to the belt of British tennis production.
