Arthur Fery, Britain’s current No.1, is heading into the American hard‑court season aware of the aspects of his game that still need polishing before the US Open, but former champion Tim Henman says that very fact is "exciting". Fery’s unexpected surge to the Wimbledon semi‑finals as a wildcard has injected a much‑needed dose of optimism into British tennis and handed fans a fresh contender to follow through the Grand Slam calendar, beginning with the New York event that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis from August 30.
At 24, the biggest challenge for the rising Brit now is to adapt to his new profile within the sport, shedding the anonymity that previously allowed him to play without the constant scrutiny that accompanies a higher ranking. The 23‑year‑old, who has vaulted from world No.114 to No.36, was the final British player left standing in what otherwise proved a bleak tournament for the host nation.
In doing so, he joined a very exclusive club: he became only the fifth British man in this century to make it into the second week at the All England Club. Fery has secured direct entry into a Masters‑1000 event for the first time at the Cincinnati tournament, which runs from August 13 to 23, and will then compete at the Winston‑Salem Open from August 23 to 29 before making his debut at Flushing Meadows. Speaking at Royal Birkdale ahead of The Open, Henman described Fery’s fairy‑tale run at Wimbledon as "amazing" and "transformational for his career and his life".
The former British No.1 highlighted the rapid climb: "He started the year at 185, qualified in Melbourne, kept improving his ranking, then received a wildcard at Wimbledon while ranked 114 and won five matches to reach the semi‑finals. It was an incredible performance and it underlines how fine the margins are among the sport’s elite." Henman added that a player inside the top 250 is already an "extremely good" competitor who, on a good day, can challenge anyone. "Being No.36 now gives Arthur the chance to plan his schedule around the remaining Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events, and to target a seed if a few higher‑ranked players withdraw – that would be a huge boost for him." Because the US Open entry list is based on the July 20 rankings, Fery will not have time to improve his standing before the draw is made.
However, Henman noted that the ranking points from Wimbledon will be added after the tournament, meaning the first event where Fery can capitalize on those points will be Cincinnati. The 2004 US Open semi‑finalist also believes that Fery’s next step is to increase his overall power to compete more consistently with the sport’s top tier. "He still has many areas to develop, and that’s exciting when you’re young," Henman said.
"I can’t wait to watch him. British tennis needs players at the top, and Arthur has a great opportunity ahead of him." Henman also reflected on the broader context for British tennis. "The first few days of Wimbledon were tough for Britain, but seeing Arthur play so well was brilliant. If Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper return fit, and with Katie Boulter, Cameron Norrie and Jan Choinski – who just broke into the top 100 – we have a strong group of players who can write new stories at the biggest events." Fery himself acknowledges that his sudden rise may thrust him into a media spotlight similar to Raducanu’s after her own Wimbledon breakthrough.
He told Sky News’s Jacquie Beltrao, "Even during the tournament I was thinking about life after and how I would handle the attention, because we’ve seen that happen to others who break through suddenly. Emma won a Slam, I didn’t, but there was still a lot of media focus.
It will be crucial to manage the expectations from myself and the public." The Brit says he is prepared for the increased scrutiny as he begins to face the sport’s elite on a regular basis. "Playing top players week in, week out lets me compare myself to them and keep improving my tennis," he explained. "I’ll have to get used to the full tour life – more media, more travel – but I think I’m ready. The US Open will be a first for me; I didn’t even have to play qualifiers last year, so it will be a great experience." When asked about the possibility of being among the 32 seeded players at Flushing Meadows, Fery remained calm.
"If a few players withdraw, I might already be seeded, which would be lucky," he said. "I don’t think I’ll be able to add more ranking points before the list is finalized, because the cut‑off is imminent. Being seeded does give a small protection from facing the very top players early, but this is my first main‑draw appearance earned directly by my ranking, so I’ll just take it as it comes." Fans can follow the ATP and WTA tours, as well as the US Open, from August 30 onward on Sky Sports, or stream the action via NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offers Sky Sports customers over 50 % more live sport this year at no extra charge.