Edinburgh’s Jacob Fearnley will begin his first-ever US Open main draw singles event against veteran Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in New York next week.

And if the former Colinton tennis junior and Merchiston Castle School alumnus was to get through that testing opener against a 37-year-old with a best ever ranking of world No 9 – he is now No 47 which is 12 places higher than Fearnley – then chances are he would face the third seed Alexander Zverev.

At the beginning of this year it was Zherevwho put an end to Fearnley’s encouraging Australian Open campaign at the third round stage.

It is a relief to see Fearnley’s name appearing in the draw after he bowed out of a Challenger event against Australia’s James McCabe suffering either injury or a heat issue: it has never been made clear.

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