Arthur Fery insists that his new status as Britain’s number one comes without any extra weight on his shoulders as he prepares to step back onto the court this weekend. The 23‑year‑old’s recent surge to the top of the British rankings follows an unforgettable Wimbledon campaign that saw him reach the semi‑finals, a feat achieved by only four other Britons in the Open Era.
That remarkable run propelled him into the ATP’s top‑40, a dramatic climb from a year‑earlier ranking of 198. In the weeks after Wimbledon, Fery opted to skip the Canadian Open, choosing rest and recovery over additional match play. He will instead make his first appearance of the post‑Wimbledon stretch at the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, a tournament that will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.
"It’s a real honour to be the British No.1," Fery told Sky Sports. "I’m not going to add any pressure to the situation. I’ll just take each match as it comes, keep putting in the work day after day – both in practice and on the court – and see where that effort leads me. That’s the approach I’ve taken all season and it’s been paying off, so I’ll keep moving in the same direction." Fery’s immediate goal is to secure a seeded position for the year’s final Grand Slam, the US Open, which kicks off on August 30.
A deep run in Cincinnati would give him the ranking points needed to guarantee a seed and, consequently, a more favorable draw. To that end, he has been training intensively in London since Wimbledon, then flew to Ohio earlier this week to acclimatise to the local conditions and time zone. He noted that fellow players have been especially welcoming as he navigates the rapid rise in his profile.
"Throughout the whole fortnight it’s been amazing to feel such massive support," he said. "I’ve never had that many fans behind me before, and it’s something I’ll always remember. Now, here in Cincinnati, playing my second Masters 1000 main draw, I’m excited to take on the tough challenges that lie ahead this year." The Cincinnati Open, which runs from August 13 to August 24, features a packed schedule of high‑profile matches. Highlights include Aryna Sabalenka versus Sara Bejlek, Alexander Zverev against Tommy Paul, and Frances Tiafoe taking on Felix Auger‑Aliassime.
In the women’s draw, Katie Boulter stands as the sole British representative, slated to meet American Katie Volynets. British compatriot Jack Draper has received a wildcard into the tournament and could potentially face world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the third round, should he navigate past Spanish youngster Martin Landeluce and Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi in the opening matches.
Draper, still nursing the disappointment of a tearful defeat to Terence Atmane at the Canadian Open and dealing with a recurring arm injury, will be hoping for a swift recovery to compete in multiple matches. Other British men on the Cincinnati roster include Cameron Norrie, who will meet Croatia’s Dino Prizmic, and Jan Choinski, set to play Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante. Fery, as a seeded player, enjoys a bye into the second round, giving him extra time to settle into the Ohio conditions. Beyond the immediate matches, Fery’s broader ambition is to cement his place among the sport’s elite by consistently performing at the highest level.
His Wimbledon semi‑final run demonstrated that he can handle the pressure of big stages, and his subsequent rise in the rankings proves his game is improving steadily. By focusing on incremental progress—working on his serve, sharpening his baseline rallies, and enhancing his physical conditioning—he hopes to translate his momentum into deeper runs at the upcoming US Open and beyond. Fans can follow the action live on Sky Sports, stream via NOW, or watch through the Sky Sports app, ensuring that British tennis enthusiasts won’t miss a moment of Fery’s quest to prove that his new No. 1 status is more than a headline—it’s the beginning of a sustained period of success on the ATP tour.