Jack Draper sends heartwarming message to rival praised by Novak Djokovic after title win

Jack Draper has congratulated Jacob Fearnley after the Scot broke into the world’s top 100 in his first season as a pro.

Fearnley, 23, won his third consecutive second-tier Challenger Tour event in Orleans to become the British No.3.

The Edinburgh star was ranked world No.1893 this time last year and only left Texas Christian University in the summer.

But after taking a set off Novak Djkoklovic at and winning four Challenger titles, he is now up to world No.98.

British No.1 Draper posted a photo of him and Fearnley together at as children on X and wrote: “So happy for Jacob Fearnley…. Top 100!!!

“A great friend from young but we went on our own paths. An amazing guy and incredible player. You deserve this!!! Only the beginning.”

Fearnley more than made a name for himself when he took on on his debut this summer. He pushed the 24-time Grand Slam champion to four sets on Centre Court.

Djokovic took the opening two sets against Fearnley before the Brit won the third in. just under an hour. However, the Serb eventually ran out the winner, claiming a 6-3 6-4 5-7 7-5 victory.

And Djokovic was full of praise for the 23-year-old after his triumph at SW19. He said: “I hadn’t had the chance to see him play. Just two days ago I saw him play for the first time, so there’s obviously always an element of surprise.

“It’s been a very windy day, but I thought he served very well. It was very difficult to break his serve; he definitely made me work.

“I was probably lucky in the fourth to not go a break down. Maybe I could have won the match in three, but I think all in all this match potentially deserved to go into the fifth the way we both played; the way he played. But I’m very glad it didn’t.

“Today, Jacob played at a high level, and he made me earn this victory.”