Wimbledon 2024: Meet Novak Djokovic's threat in second round who once beat Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner

Novak Djokovic's quest for a 25th Grand Slam got off to a flying start as he defeated Czech qualifier Vit Kopriva in the opening match of the Wimbledon 2024. There were doubts about his participation and injury concerns, but the Serbian pulled off a comfortable 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 victory to advance to the second round.

Notably, he has now won all 19 of his first-round matches at Wimbledon. The 37-year-old had undergone surgery on a torn meniscus last month after sustaining the injury during the French Open. Despite not being at his best in terms of fitness, the legendary player is considered one of the favourites to claim the title this time.

Also Read: The story of the Djokovic injury: Fake or real?

While he had to face little trouble in the first round, things will not be that smooth for him in the second. Djokovic’s next assignment is against a British wildcard - Jacob Fearnley. The World No. 277 has been in fine form during the summer, and he has a history of defeating defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and current top seed Jannik Sinner. 

Here's everything you need to know about the young star

Jacob Fearnley, who started playing tennis as a child, was a standout in the junior world. During this time he rose to prominence with wins over Alcaraz and Sinner, helping him reach the top 30 in the Junior ITF rankings. The 22-year-old had also competed against eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer at the All-England Club as a teenager.

Also Read: Wimbledon 2024: 5 Key milestones for Carlos Alcaraz

He built a successful collegiate career by playing for Texas Christian University. He accumulated an impressive 85-32 win-loss record in singles and a 70-30 record in doubles. Notably, he was a four-time ITA All-American champion, winning singles in 2023 and 2024, and in doubles in 2022 and 2023.

It was a year ago Fearnley got a significant breakthrough in the professional circuit. He and fellow collegiate Johannus claimed the doubles title at the Challenger event in Nottingham. This helped the duo gain a wildcard entry into the men’s doubles draw at Wimbledon.

Fearley qualified as a wildcard in the Nottingham Singles earlier this year and reached the main draw with two wins. A remarkable campaign saw him reach the final, where he defeated compatriot Charles Broom to claim the biggest title of his career. He also earned a wildcard into the Eastbourne International, where he lost to Billy Harris.

He is now set to face one of the greatest players in history on Thursday – most likely on Centre Court – and will look to pull off a stunning upset.