Arthur Fery insists that his new status as Britain’s No. 1 does not bring any extra weight on his shoulders as he prepares to step back onto the court this weekend for the first time since his remarkable Wimbledon semi‑final run. The 23‑year‑old’s breakthrough at the All England Club made him only the fifth British man in the Open Era to reach the men’s singles semifinals at Wimbledon, and his performance catapulted him into the top‑40 of the ATP rankings, a dramatic jump from a year‑end position of 198.
In order to arrive at the upcoming tournament fully refreshed, Fery chose to skip the Canadian Open, opting instead for a brief period of rest and targeted preparation. He will now travel to the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, where his matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.
"It’s an honour to be the British No. 1, but I’m not going to add any extra pressure on myself," Fery told Sky Sports. "I’ll simply take each match as it comes, keep putting in the work day after day, both on the practice court and in competition, and see where that effort takes me.
That’s the approach I’ve taken all year and it’s paid off so far, so I intend to keep moving in the same direction." Fery’s immediate goal is to secure a seeded position for the final Grand Slam of the season, the US Open, which kicks off on August 30. A solid performance in Cincinnati would give him the ranking points he needs to guarantee a seed and avoid an early‑round draw against a top opponent.
To that end, he has been training intensively in London since Wimbledon and flew to Ohio earlier this week to acclimatise to the local conditions. He also noted that his fellow players have been exceptionally welcoming as he navigates the rapid rise in his profile. "Throughout the whole fortnight, the amount of support was unbelievable. I’d never experienced that many fans behind me before, and it made the whole experience special," he said.
"Now, here in Cincinnati, playing my second Masters 1000 main‑draw match, I’m excited to take on the tough events that lie ahead this year." The Cincinnati Open also features other British hopefuls. Jack Draper received a wildcard entry and could potentially meet Novak Djokovic in the third round. Draper is slated to face Spain’s rising talent Martín Landeluce in the opening round, followed by a clash with Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi. If he wins both matches, the Serbian legend awaits.
However, Draper is still recovering from an emotional defeat to Terence Atmane in the first round of the Canadian Open, where he broke down in tears, and it remains unclear whether lingering arm‑injury issues contributed to that loss. Cameron Norrie will take on Croatia’s Dino Prizmić, while Jan Choinski faces Argentina’s Thiago Agustín Tirante. Fery, as a seeded player, receives a bye into the second round, giving him extra time to settle into the tournament environment.
On the women’s side, Katie Boulter is the sole British representative and will square off against American Katie Volynets. The broader British tennis landscape continues to generate headlines. Katie Boulter was recently eliminated from the Mubadala DC Open by American Ashlyn Krueger, and Cameron Norrie ended a six‑match losing streak on the ATP Tour.
Meanwhile, discussions about Andy Murray’s Wimbledon legacy have intensified following his withdrawal from the 2024 Championships, and Emma Raducanu’s meteoric rise after her fairy‑tale summer has cemented her status as a household name in the UK. Looking ahead, the Cincinnati Open runs from August 13 to August 24, culminating in the US Open’s start on August 30. Fans can follow all action live on Sky Sports, via the NOW streaming service, or through the Sky Sports app, ensuring comprehensive coverage of the tournament’s key moments. In summary, Arthur Fery’s ascent to Britain’s top ranking has been marked by poise and a refusal to let external expectations dictate his performance.
By focusing on incremental progress, maintaining a disciplined training regimen, and embracing the support of fans and peers alike, he aims to translate his Wimbledon breakthrough into sustained success on the ATP circuit, with the ultimate aim of securing a seeded spot at the US Open and continuing his upward trajectory in the world of professional tennis.