Two Brits Stage Epic US Open Comebacks to Reach Round Two

Down 5-2 in the fourth set and staring at defeat, British tennis player Jacob Fearnley refused to give up at the US Open on Monday. What happened next was pure magic.

The 101st-ranked player, competing as a lucky loser after barely missing the main draw, rattled off 10 of the next 11 games to stun Spain's Martin Landaluce 4-6, 6-2, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3. Fearnley's secret? "Just point after point," he said, drawing inspiration from a similar comeback on the Challenger Tour in July where he recovered from 5-1, 40-15 down.

The dramatic turnaround happened when Landaluce served for the match at 5-2 in the fourth set. Fearnley broke serve three times and won 20 of the next 24 points, including a blistering fifth set where he struck 30 winners to his opponent's 11.

Across town, Harriet Dart was staging her own comeback against American Peyton Stearns. Down a set and a break, the 30-year-old British player clawed her way back to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-2, ending a frustrating 19-month drought without a Grand Slam main draw victory.

Dart's win was especially sweet after struggling through the qualifying rounds and losing in the first round at the past two Wimbledon tournaments. She celebrated by running straight to her team, which now includes 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli as her coach.

"From her experience, she knows what I'm going through," Dart said of working with Bartoli. "I feel like I'm improving at a lot of things, which motivates me."

Why This Inspires

Both players embodied resilience at its finest. Fearnley entered the tournament as a lucky loser, someone who lost in qualifying but got a second chance when another player withdrew. Instead of feeling pressure, he saw freedom: "I don't have a lot to lose."

Dart's journey shows that progress isn't always linear. After 19 months of setbacks and first-round exits, she kept working with her new coach and trusted the process. Her breakthrough came at Flushing Meadows, which she calls her "home away from home," with family cheering from the stands.

The wins mean four British players have reached the second round, joining Katie Boulter and Toby Samuel in a strong showing for British tennis. Fearnley will face 27th seed Tomas Etcheverry next, while Dart takes on 25th seed Marie Bouzkova.

Both players proved that matches aren't over until the final point, turning certain defeat into unforgettable victory.