Two Brits Stage Dramatic US Open Comebacks in New York

Two British tennis players reminded us why you should never give up, staging remarkable comebacks at the US Open that had fans on the edge of their seats.

Jacob Fearnley looked finished when his opponent served for the match in the fourth set, trailing 5-2. Instead of folding, the 23-year-old won 20 of the next 24 points to complete a stunning 4-6 6-2 4-6 7-5 6-3 victory over Spain's Martin Landaluce.

Fearnley barely made it into the tournament as a "lucky loser" after losing his final qualifying match. When another player withdrew, he got a second chance and seized it with both hands.

His secret? "Just point after point," Fearnley said after the match. "I don't have a lot to lose."

The win was especially sweet given Fearnley had pulled off a similar comeback just weeks earlier on the Challenger Tour, rallying from 5-1, 40-15 down. That memory gave him the confidence to believe when things looked darkest.

Meanwhile, Harriet Dart ended a frustrating 19-month wait for a Grand Slam win by defeating American Peyton Stearns 3-6 6-3 6-2. The 30-year-old had lost in the first round at four of the past six majors, including back-to-back opening defeats at Wimbledon.

Down a set and a break against Stearns, Dart found another gear. She capitalized on her opponent's inconsistency to storm back, celebrating with her parents, uncle, and cousins who had traveled to support her at what she calls her "home away from home."

Why This Inspires

Both players show that timing matters less than tenacity. Fearnley wasn't supposed to be in the main draw at all, while Dart had every reason to doubt herself after months of early exits.

What changed? For Dart, teaming up with 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli in January has transformed her game and mindset. "I'm learning so much every time we speak," Dart said, crediting Bartoli's experience with helping her navigate the mental challenges.

Fearnley's philosophy is even simpler: focus on the next point, not the scoreboard. When you're facing match point, that's all you can control anyway.

Their victories put four British players into the second round, a promising start to the tournament that reflects the depth of talent emerging in British tennis.

When the odds look impossible, these two proved that the match isn't over until the final point is played.