Jacob Fearnley adds to Scotland’s sporting woe

The post-mortem into Scottish’s sports latest disappointment need not be long after Jacob Fearnley suffered an early Wimbledon exit.

The 24-year-old could assess his straight-sets loss and shake his head with as much frequency and exasperation, as when the end was nigh against experienced Spaniard Jaume Munar, because the area of separation between the players was obvious. Fearnley was not outclassed. At the clutch moments, he was out-served.

Despite the margin of defeat, for much of this match the margins were tantalisingly small, with plenty weighted in the Briton’s favour. He hit 20 forehand winners compared to Munar’s six – his obvious strength typified with a couple of running passing shots reminiscent of his legendary compatriot Andy Murray.

He also struck a remarkable eight times as many backhand winners as his opponent, confirming a 3-0 loss by no means a reflection of a gulf in shot-making ability.

But while Munar was able to claw his way out of trouble with unnerving regularly, his first serve pushing 138 mph on critical points, Fearnley’s holds of serve took the form of a series of epics. That proved unsustainable.

“On the big points he served well. He was consistently hitting 135 mph. I wasn’t expecting that,” Fearnley admitted, correctly describing it as a “close match” regardless of the scoreline.

“I think the difference – like most matches I am losing – is not coming down to that much. He served better, and it’s just how you play the big points.”

Jaume Munar serves during his second-round match — Jaume Munar’s serve was a major factor in the second-round contest – Neil Hall/Shutterstock

A first serve which on average clocked up around 10mph below his opponent’s could not present Fearnley with enough free points, particularly in the tight games.

Munar, in contrast, kept delivering each time Fearnley threatened to build momentum.

By the end Fearnley won only 13 of 69 Munar’s first-serve points, the 29-year-old’s ability to find his best delivery almost laughably impressive as the Scot kept pushing for a momentum swing.

There was still plenty to regret for Fearnley, particularly in sets one and two.

After a poor start in which he fell 5-2 down, he reacted and saved set-points to break back, only to produce one of his worst service games to fall behind. As a concentration lapse, it was akin to the Scottish defence inviting Vincius Jr to score from 10 yards.

By the end of the second, Fearnley looked primed to deservedly level the match, at that stage showcasing the more impressive all-round game. Then luck deserted him.

At 4-4, Munar held with a fortunate net cord having held his nerve from 0-40 down. It proved decisive as the world No 44 went on to secure the tie-break before instantly breaking serve at the start of the third – a lead he would not surrender.

Fearnley’s head never bowed as he yearned for a dip. He departed believing he had more to offer, consoled that the foundations are there to make greater progress in future majors.

05:55pm

Munar wins in straight sets – 6-4, 7-6, 6-4

Fearnley wins the opening point as Munar loses his footing at the back of the court. The Spaniard then gets to 15-15 as Fearnley nets a forehand.

Ambitious thinking is rewarded, as Fearnley closes out a point at the net for 15-30. Munar then fires down an ace for 30-30. Match point comes after Fearnley nets a forehand from the baseline. Munar wins as Fearnley nets a return.

05:48pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 4-5 Munar

Fearnley, serving to stay in the match, starts with a nice serve-volley play. A huge forehand winner from the baseline sees the Briton move 30-0 ahead before Munar gets on the board 30-15.

Serve out wide is unreturned and Fearnley holds to extend this this third set.

Over to Munar to try and serve it out after the sitdown.

05:45pm

Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 3-5 Munar*

At 15-0, Fearnley plays a nice backhand pass to draw level at 15-15. Munar then goes ahead following a good serve out wide.

Munar holds to 15. One more game will do it for the Spaniard.

05:43pm

Fearnley needs to break serve

Quite fancy Fearnley to break serve at least once more in this match. Whether he can keep winning his own to take it to a fourth is another matter.

Fearnley has won only 11 of 62 points against Munar’s first serve. If the comeback is going to happen, he’s got to get a look at some second serves pretty sharpish.

05:42pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 3-4 Munar

Fearnley wins the first point before going 30-0 up with overhead. A strong first serve sees the Briton move to 40-0 and he holds to love, closing out the game with a forehand volley.

05:40pm

Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 2-4 Munar*

Munar holds to 15 as he closes in on this third set.

05:36pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 2-3 Munar

Fearnley races to a 30-0 lead before an error from the Briton sees Munar get on the board. Munar then nets a short backhand to give Fearnley two game points and the Briton holds.

05:34pm

Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 1-3 Munar*

Fearnley nets a forehand volley to fall 15-0 behind. After some good exchanges, the Briton finds himself at 30-40 but is unable to take advantage.

Munar’s serve comes up for the Spaniard again as he holds to maintain his lead.

05:26pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 1-2 Munar

Fearnley, looking to get on the board in this third set, quickly gets to 40-15 and closes out the game with a nice overhead. Good hold.

05:24pm

Things could unravel quickly

This has the potential to unravel quickly. Fearnley has won just 63 per cent of points on his first serve, compared to Munar’s 85 per cent. It’s made too many of the Brit’s service games epics. For all his battling qualities, his serve just isn’t a big enough weapon today.

As if to underline the difference between the players, Munar again finds the thunderbolt first serves to get out of trouble. What Fearnley would give for such a weapon.

05:23pm

Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 0-2 Munar*

Munar, looking to consolidate the break, races to a 40-0 lead before Fearnley gets on the board with a forehand winner. Munar double-faults to give Fearnley a look at 30-40. The Briton then passes the Spaniard with a lovely cross-court backhand. Deuce.

From nowhere, Fearnley gets to advantage after a run of four points on the bounce. Munar saves break point and gets to advantage as Fearnley nets a forehand. And Spaniard holds with strong serve out wide.

05:15pm

Third set: *Fearnley 4-6, 6-7, 0-1 Munar

After trading the first two points, Munar moves 15-30 ahead before Fearnley draws level at 30-30 with a nice forehand volley.

More good net-play earns the Briton game point. A double fault moves the score to deuce before Fearnley sweeps a forehand down the line for a clean winner to move to advantage. The Briton is unable to close.

Munar breaks!

05:01pm

Long way back now

Losing that tie-break is going to sting. For Fearnley to be two sets down feels harsh. But if the Princess of Wales wants to see him in action she might have to get a jog on. It’s a long way back now

05:00pm

Munar takes the second-set tie-break

Munar begins with an ace. 0-1.

Fearnley nets a forehand to hand Munar the first mini break. 0-2.

A good overhead gets the Briton on the board. 1-2.

Munar then sees a Fearnley return sail long. 1-3.

Serve-volley play is put away from the Spaniard. 1-4.

Munar then pushes a backhand long. 2-4.

A huge forehand winner from Fearnley keeps the Briton involved. 3-4.

Ace from Munar sees the Spaniard close in on the second set. 3-5.

Another strong first delivery brings up three set points for the Spaniard. 3-6.

Munar takes it the tie-break as Fearnley nets a forehand.

04:53pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 5-6 Munar

Fearnley starts things off with an ace. Munar goes long with a return before the Briton throws in an error of his own. A good forehand approach ball is then shanked from Munar, giving Fearnley two game points. And the Briton holds to take this second set into a tie-break!

04:48pm

Fearnley 4-6, 5-6 Munar*

Munar races to a 30-0 lead and then sees a Fearnley forehand sail long. The Spaniard closes out the game to love with an ace.

04:46pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 5-5 Munar

Fearnley, serving to stay in the second set, loses the opening point before levelling up at 15-15. An attempted lob from Munar sails long. More good serving from Fearnley gets the Briton to 40-15 before a double fault gives Munar a look at 40-30. The Spaniard obliges, going big on a second-serve return to move to deuce.

Another deep return from Munar sees Fearnley slice a backhand long but the Briton is able to save the break point with a strong first serve. Fearnley eventually holds.

04:38pm

Fearnley 4-6, 4-5 Munar*

Fearnley races to a 0-40 lead before Munar looks to make a revival, winning the next two points. Fearnley then nets a forehand. An ace from Munar then gives the Spaniard game point.

Fearnley eats up a second serve to move the score back to deuce. A nice backhand down the line gives Fearnley advantage. Munar plays a drop shot then delivers an ace to move to advantage. A lucky net cord does the trick for the Spaniard.

04:30pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 4-4 Munar

Fearnley gets on the board first before Munar comes out on top after an extended baseline exchange. The Spaniard then demonstrates his silky touch with a nice angled backhand pass. Fearnley wins the next point after coming in and then shows his handy skills with an angled backhand volley winner. Fearnley seals the game with a forehand winner.

04:25pm

Davis Cup captain showing support

Audible shouts of “come on, Jacob” from the British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith during another tight service game. Fearnley responds with a whipped forehand winner. This crowd is desperate to pump up the atmosphere. Shots like that will do so.

04:24pm

Fearnley 4-6, 3-4 Munar*

Munar nearly lost his footing at 15-15 as he was coming in to the net off a forehand approach. Fearnley’s lob sails long.

Then at 40-30, Munar comes up with a big first serve which Fearnley is unable to return.

04:20pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 3-3 Munar

After exchanging the opening couple of points, Fearnley goes long with a forehand to hand Munar a 15-30 lead. Fearnley is then rewarded for a good approach shot and wins the point after that to move to 40-30. Munar gets to deuce.

Fearnley wraps up the game in style with a passing shot on the run.

04:13pm

Fearnley 4-6, 2-3 Munar*

Fearnley nets a forehand after good baseline exchange to start this fifth game of set two. Munar then throws in an error of his own before delivering an ace to move 30-15 ahead. An attempted slice backhand approach does not make it over the net for Fearnley, bringing up two game points for Munar and the Spaniard closes out with an ace.

04:10pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 2-2 Munar

Fearnley races to a 30-0 lead before Munar lets rip on a forehand for a clean winner down the line. Fearnley, appearing rushed, then sees a forehand of his own sail long but gets back on track in the next point with a cross-court winner.

Munar stays in a long rally and sees Fearnley go long with a backhand slice. The Briton wins the next point following a strong first serve but is unable to put the game away. Deuce. Munar goes wide with a forehand. Advantage Fearnley and the Briton holds.

04:02pm

Fearnley 4-6, 1-2 Munar*

Munar comes up with a passing shot to go 15-0 ahead before two strong first deliveries get the Spaniard to 40-0. Fearnley then goes wide with a forehand from the baseline and Munar holds to love.

Finally someone holds serve and Munar leads in the second. Fearnley has been playing the better tennis for the last 25 minutes. He just can’t get enough free points on his service games to build any momentum.

03:59pm

*Fearnley 4-6, 1-1 Munar

Fearnley concedes the opening point before getting to 15-15 with a lovely angled backhand volley winner. Munar then shows off his hand skills with drop shot winner. Some more good scrapping gets Fearnley to 30-30.

A rush of blood sees Fearnley go wide with an easy forehand volley. The Briton then delivers an ace to get to deuce before netting a volley to give Munar advantage.

The Spaniard breaks as Fearnley goes wide with a forehand.

Jaume Munar in second-round action – Adam Davy/PA

03:53pm

Second set: Fearnley 4-6, 1-0 Munar*

Munar falls 0-30 behind before getting on the board at 15-30. A Fearnley forehand error sees the score move to 30-30. Fearnley then rips a massive forehand down the line that leaves Munar scrambling. 30-40. And Fearnley breaks at the start of this second set.

03:50pm

From the sublime to the ridiculous

Oh dear. From the sublime to the ridiculous for the Scot. He’ll be furious with himself. That last service game to lose the set was the equivalent of passing to Vinicius Jr 10 yards from goal. Munar barely had to work to go one-up in the end.

03:47pm

Munar wins the first set 6-4

Fearnley, serving to level things up in the first set, throws in a horrible service game and is broken to love handing Munar the opening set.

03:44pm

Fearnley 4-5 Munar*

Fearnley shows grit, hanging in there during a long rally at 30-30, eventually ending the point with a forehand winner.

The Briton breaks back!

Back on serve in this opening set.

Huge turnaround, Fearnley saving set points on his own serve before unleashing a flurry of winners to get back into the set. Munar’s serve speed dropped significantly in his last game. Maybe that injury is bothering him…

03:41pm

Trainer may be called for Munar

A crumb of comfort for the Brit having lost serve is Munar may be troubled by an early slip. He was in conversation with the umpire. Physio may be heading to Court 12 at conclusion of set. The Spaniard has been noticeably affected as yet.

03:38pm

*Fearnley 3-5 Munar

Fearnley, serving to stay in the first set, loses his footing and the opening point before falling 0-30 behind.

A good passing shot on the backhand wing, sees Fearnley get on the board but another error off the forehand brings up two break points for Munar. Fearnley saves the first with a backhand-pass and the second as Munar goes long from the baseline. Deuce.

An attempted lob from Munar sails long and Fearnley sees out the game.

Jacob Fearnley loses his footing — Fearnley loses his footing behind the baseline – Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

03:33pm

Fearnley 2-5 Munar*

Munar, looking to consolidate the break, shows off his good hands with a delicate put-away volley before closing out the game with two strong first deliveries. Solid hold from the Spaniard.

Munar’s first serve is clocking up 15 mph quicker than Fearnley’s. He’d threatened to break in each of the Brit’s service games before doing so. The Spaniard now looking the much sharper as he closes in on the first set.

03:29pm

*Fearnley 2-4 Munar

After exchanging the first couple of points, Fearnley moves 30-15 ahead after going back behind the Spaniard with an approach shot. Munar then draws an error from the Fearnley, who nets a groundstroke break-point down to hand the Spaniard the game.

03:25pm

Fearnley 2-3 Munar*

Munar, serving well in the opening stages, races to a 40-0 lead. A good backhand return gets Fearnley on the board at 40-15 but Spaniard closes out with another strong first delivery.

03:23pm

*Fearnley 2-2 Munar

Fearnley works his way out of a tricky service game after falling 0-30 behind. The Briton holds to keep things level in this opening set.

Early opportunities to break for both players in what already looks set for a well-matched contest. A splattering of Spanish fans are applauding every Munar point, but they’re vastly outnumbered – like teetolers in a bar full of Scottish supporters.

03:18pm

Fearnley 1-2 Munar*

Munar falls 0-15 behind delivering a strong serve out wide causing Fearnley to net his return. Munar then gets to 30-15 and then 40-15 as Fearnley goes long with a forehand. The Spaniard sees out the game to 15.

03:15pm

*Fearnley 1-1 Munar

Strong second serve sees Fearnley register the first opening point. The Briton quickly falls 15-30 behind before getting to 30-30 as Munar loses his footing behind the baseline.

Munar comes out on top after an extended rally to bring up break point. Fearnley saves it with a backhand volley winner. Deuce. Huge forehand-cross gives Fearnley advantage. And Briton holds.

03:09pm

First set: Jacob Fearnley 0-1 Jaume Munar*

The pair exchange the opening couple of points before Munar throws in a double fault. 15-30.

The Spaniard then goes long from the baseline to give Fearnley two break points.

Munar saves the first with an ace and second with a good serve plus-one play. Deuce. Fearnley nets a return to give Munar advantage. The Spaniard then goes long with a forehand. Another return from Fearnley fails to make it over the net and the Briton nets a backhand after a long baseline exchange. Munar holds.

02:58pm

Players are on court

Jaume Munar won the toss and has elected to serve.

Jacob Fearnley has arrived on Court 12 where it’s as hot as Harry Kane’s right foot at the moment, and where it is already as boisterous as your local pub at 6.30pm last night.

After Arthur Fery’s victory, can the Scot also make it to round three and declare rumours of British tennis’ decline slightly exaggerated?

Chris Bascombe courtside — Chris Bascombe’s courtside view – Chris Bascombe

02:50pm

Upset on Court 12

Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff has just beaten the 28th-seeded American Brandon Nakashima in five sets.

Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff reacts — Jan-Lennard Struff is through to the third round – Toby Melville/Reuters

02:23pm

Fearnley bids to reach third round

Hello and welcome to coverage from Wimbledon as Great Britain’s Jacob Fearnley takes on Jaume Munar.

Fearnley needed a wild card to get into the tournament after a difficult 12 months so fighting back from two-sets down to beat American Alex Michelsen was a real shot in the arm for the Scotsman.

“I have practised with him a lot,” said the 24-year-old. “It is not an easy match, but there are worse draws out there. Two years ago, I drew Novak [Djokovic].

“You do kind of go into the match thinking you’re in it, where sometimes when I have drawn [Alexander] Zverev second round, you kind of just go in thinking, ‘Well, I’ll try and get some games’.”

Munar, the world No 44, beat Queen’s Club champion Francisco Cerundolo in the second round.

Fearnley could receive a visit from the Princess of Wales, who is at the All England Club today. Dressed in a blue outfit, the 44-year-old made her way to Court 18 to watch Arthur Fery and was seated beside British former semi-finalist Tim Henman.

On arrival earlier, the Princess, who is patron of the AELTC, spent time meeting attendees who queued up since early in the morning, alongside the honourary stewards.

Fery came from a set down to beat Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-3. It is a first appearance in the third round of a grand slam for Fery, and with Shelton exiting this quarter of the draw in the first round, the youngster from Wimbledon could yet go further still.