Who Are Jacob Fearnley’s Parents Samantha and Craig, and What Do They Do for a Living? Everything You Need to Know

When Jacob Fearnley was just 17, he shared the court with the legendary Roger Federer, soaking in every move and strategy from one of the greatest. Who would’ve thought that the wide-eyed teen would one day take center stage on the same grand courts, dazzling the world with his own talent? Now, as he gears up for a high-stakes clash against Nick Kyrgios at the Australian Open on Monday, the young British star will need more than just skill—he’ll need unwavering moral support. Enter Samantha and Craig Fearnley, the proud parents who’ve been Jacob’s biggest cheerleaders. While they’ll be watching their son’s every move with bated breath, we can’t help but wonder—who are the people behind the rising tennis sensation?

Fearnley does not come from an athletic background and one can rightly say that he made successful strides in his own right. It is through his determined efforts that he has entered the main draw of a Grand Slam for the second time in his career and made some remarkable progress. But behind Fearnley’s rise, forever shining the light above his head are his parents.

The British star was born in July 2001 to Samantha and Craig. While Samantha was a human resources manager at the National Health Service, Fearnley’s father, Craig, worked for Johnson Controls. Both of them are enjoying their retirement now. Parallelly, throughout their lives, they ensured that their professional duties never impacted their child’s love for tennis. In fact, according to the World No. 92, his mother is the reason why he could fulfill his dreams in the sport.

When Fearnley was four or five years old, his mother gave him a racket in his hand. The growing kid took it up with zeal and did not look back ever. And it is probably for this reason that he shares a closer bond with his mother. Admiring his mother, Fearnley revealed to ATPTour.com, “My mom obviously has made a huge impact for me just supporting me, believing in me more than anyone. I’m super grateful to her.” He further added, “She’s an unbelievable human, and she’s done so much for me, especially in tennis.”

Samantha used to go to work early in the morning and Fearnley spent all day with his grandparents. And notably, he has never failed to acknowledge his grandparents’ efforts either which he considers to be “huge.” However, like any other parents, Fearnley’s parents too did not wish for him to struggle through life and always motivated him to identify a backup if tennis did not work.

“I was always a bit physically underdeveloped and school was a big thing – my parents wanted me to have something to fall back on if tennis didn’t work,” the Brit revealed. But all that is in the past. For now, Fearnley would only wish to make his parents proud as he gears up for his first match at the Australian Open on Monday. But guess what? Fearnley is afraid of facing against who else other than the temperamental Nick Kyrgios. But the challenge isn’t exactly what you think.

Jacob Fearnley opens up about likely challenges at the Australian Open

The excitement to participate in a Grand Slam is definitely palpable for all the players and the situation with Jacob Fearnley is no exception. However, as he prepares for the match, the Brit is afraid of facing some challenges, not in terms of his skills but from the crowd. He will, after all, be facing off against the local favorite Kyrgios in Melbourne.

Reflecting on the upcoming match, Fearnley said, “It’s not a match you want to see in Australia. I know that the crowd’s going to be against me. Obviously there was a lot of excitement, as well, (about the draw) because it’s not a common match.” However, he wishes to remain calm and focus on his match rather than on the atmosphere.

“I think the best thing I can do is just try to enjoy it as best as I can. Obviously focusing on myself is one thing. I understand that’s going to be very difficult to do. It’s still pretty early in my career. To have an opportunity and an experience like this is really cool,” he said per Independent. As the match unfolds, all eyes will now be on the young sensation. Can he outshine the local star on his home turf? Well that remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: his parents will continue to remain a strong pillar of strength for the British star.