British tennis player Arthur Fery has continued his rise in the sport despite falling short in his first ATP tour-level final. The 24-year-old, who rose to prominence following a surprise run to the Wimbledon semi-finals earlier this summer, was defeated 6-3, 6-2 by Peruvian second seed Ignacio Buse at the Winston-Salem Open in North Carolina on the eve of the US Open.
Fery’s journey over the past two months has been striking. After his unexpected success on the grass courts at Wimbledon—where he lost in the semi-finals to French Open champion Alexander Zverev—Fery’s ranking jumped from 114th to world number 37, making him the new British No. 1. This success earned him a significant prize fund of £900,000. Following Wimbledon, Fery took a brief break before returning to competitive play. He skipped the Toronto Masters where Zverev competed but entered the Cincinnati Masters as the 32nd seed, where he faced an early exit against world No. 5 Alex de Minaur.
Kenned with the need for match practice ahead of the final Grand Slam of the year, Fery decided to compete at the Winston-Salem Open, an ATP 250 event attracting top players like Daniil Medvedev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Seeded fourth, he won consecutive matches against opponents including Lleyton Hewitt’s son Cruz, Mees Rottgering, and Aleksandar Kovacevic, showcasing resilience reminiscent of his Wimbledon campaign. However, he was outplayed by Buse in the final, who surged to victory with a dominant run after leveling the first set at 3-3.
Despite the loss, Fery will return to the US Open with momentum and the British No. 1 spot back in his hands, having briefly lost it to Cameron Norrie earlier this month. Fery, who holds dual roots—French-born but raised near Wimbledon—will make his US Open debut facing Italian 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti in the first round. Musetti has had a mixed season disrupted by injury, which Fery may leverage to his advantage.
Experts have noted that Fery’s smaller stature at 5ft 9in presents challenges on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows, where powerful baseliners often dominate due to higher and faster ball bounces compared to grass. However, LTA performance director Michael Bourne emphasized that height should not be seen as a limiting factor, pointing to Fery’s ability to generate effective serve speeds and his speed around the court as key assets in his game. Bourne highlighted Fery’s tactical decision-making and athleticism as reasons to remain optimistic about his potential.
Fery’s rise bears similarities to that of French player Lois Boisson, who also experienced a rapid ascent into the top 40 before injury setbacks. Boisson emphasized the need to adapt to a new level of competition and the changing demands on schedule and tournament selection following a breakthrough.
As Fery prepares to compete at the US Open, his recent performances demonstrate both promise and areas for growth. The experience gained during this summer’s breakthrough, coupled with his strong showings on the ATP Tour, position him as a player to watch as he aims to build on his achievements and climb further in the rankings.