Thomas Fancutt: The elite tennis bloodline of rising ace

Thomas Fancutt: Homegrown tennis talent shares family tennis stories and life on the road.

Thomas Fancutt’s run at a familiar Cairns Tennis International ended much earlier than expected, with the Brisbane-based No.3 seed retiring in the first round.

Fancutt carried a wrist injury into the first of two consecutive pro tour tournaments being played at the Cairns North venue, but he was clearly still hampered by the poorly timed injury.

He fell 6-3 in the first set to Pavle Marinkov, and while he played his way back to 3-2 in the second, opted to retire.

The 28-year-old is among the entries for the second tournament, but the untimely injury puts his participation in doubt.

Fancutt carries with him a family history of talented tennis players who competed at the highest level.

His grandmother, Daphne, made the 1956 Wimbledon women’s doubles final and his grandfather, Trevor, was a South African Davis Cup player who won the mixed doubles title at the 1960 Australian Championships.

This gave Fancutt a passionate foundation for the sport from an early age.

“I come from a massive tennis family, my grandparents and their three sons all played.” Fancutt said.

“I grew up in a house with essentially five coaches.

“Gave me a lot of perspective on the history of tennis, from ‘50s and ‘60s, to ‘80s and ‘90s, to the modern day tennis.

“My grandparents were super passionate so we did a lot of sliced backhand and volley work when I was young.

“They all taught me at a young age and I have pretty special memories from it.”

Former tennis players Trevor Fancutt and wife Daphne Fancutt (nee Seeney), with sons Charles (back l), 17, Michael (back r), 15, and Chris, 10, 14 Jan 1977. (Pic by unidentified staff photographer)

His uncle Charlie Fancutt famously upset former world number one Ivan Lendl in the opening round of the 1981 Wimbledon Championships, winning in five sets.

Fancutt said he had a big influence on his development.

“The ‘80s and ‘90s in particular stood out for me,” he said.

“My uncle Charlie grew up playing with Ivan Lendl and Michael Chang,

“That’s when I feel tennis really evolved with the new racquets and game style.”

Tennis player Charlie Fancutt competing in Wimbledon match 1981. a/ct 1980s fancutt/lendl/match

The Cairns stop on the ATP tour is a particularly special place for the skilful player.

“Cairns is pretty special to me,” Fancutt said.

“I had my first professional ranking here when I was 19.

“I have come back for over five tournaments.

“I love playing in the heat and coming from Queensland, I love playing at home.”

The Cairns Tennis International men’s and women’s division has reached the second round with Blake Ellis, Blake Mott and Filip Peliwo already through to the men’s quarter-final.

Meanwhile, Lizette Cabrera is already through to the women’s quarter-final.

The final is scheduled to be held on Sunday for both divisions.

The second Cairns Tennis International tournament starts Monday.

Originally published as Thomas Fancutt: The elite tennis bloodline of rising ace