Former Texas Christian University star Jacob Fearnley claimed his fourth Challenger title of the season at the Co'met Orleans Open. The Briton faced Harold Mayot in the final and scored a 6-3, 7-6 victory in an hour and a half, earning 125 ATP points and cracking the top-100!
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Jacob notched his third consecutive Challenger title and the second on an indoor court in France within four weeks, extending his incredible run that started in June. Fearnley served at 55% and landed seven winners and double faults.
They brought the same efficiency behind the first serve, and the Frenchman ruined his chances after taking only five of 24 points behind the second. Mayot scored three breaks and got broken four times. He fought well in the second set, fending off three match points before squandering two set points in the 12th game, losing a tight tie break and propelling his opponent over the top.
Jacob fell behind early in both sets, keeping his composure and turning the tables for another trophy in his breakthrough season.
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Jacob Fearnley has won four Challenger titles since June.
The Briton sprayed a forehand error in the third game of the encounter, facing a break point and losing serve after netting a routine forehand.
Fearnley pulled the break back at love a few minutes later and fired an ace in the next one for a 3-2 advantage. Harold struggled behind the initial shot again in the sixth game, netting a routine backhand and offering his opponent two break chances.
Jacob attacked and seized the first, taking four straight games and settling into a fine rhythm. Fearnley held for 5-2 with a service winner and claimed the opener with another in game nine, producing a hold at love for 6-3 after 34 minutes.
Like in the opener, Mayot grabbed a break in the second game of the second set after the rival's loose backhand, moving 2-0 in front and improving his chances. Still, the Briton landed a backhand crosscourt winner in the third game, pulling the break back and holding at love a few minutes later for 2-2.
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Harold played another loose service game and fell 3-2 behind when his forehand landed long.
Jacob provided comfortable holds in games six and eight, moving 5-3 in front and putting one hand on the trophy.
The Frenchman served to stay in the match in game nine and faced two match points after the rival's forehand winner. Mayot denied them and held, extending the battle and his chances. The home player saved the third match point on the return at 4-5 and created four break points.
He converted the last after Fearnley's wayward forehand, locking the result at 5-5 and increasing the drama. With a boost on his side, the Frenchman held at love in game 11 and generated two set points on the return in the next one after another loose forehand from his opponent.
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Jacob saved them with fine hitting and held, introducing a tie break. They traded four mini-breaks in the opening eight points, staying neck and neck. Harold missed a forehand at 5-4 and faced a match point after the rival's ace.
Fearnley converted it after Mayot's backhand error, celebrating his fourth Challenger title of the season and a place in the top-100.
