Britain's rising star Arthur Fery saw his Cincinnati Open campaign end in disappointment, but not before delivering a dramatic resurgence that was ultimately curtailed by Australia’s Alex de Minaur, with multiple rain interruptions adding to the tension. The match concluded with the fifth‑seeded De Minaur prevailing 7‑5, 7‑6 (7‑3), yet the path to that result was anything but straightforward.
The encounter began under a sky that threatened rain, and after just one game the first suspension arrived, forcing players to pause and regroup. Play resumed, only to be halted again after the first set finished, and a third delay came when De Minaur led 7‑5, 5‑1 in the second set, just one game away from securing a place in the round of 16.
These interruptions tested both competitors’ focus and physical readiness, turning the match into a battle of endurance as well as skill. When the courts finally dried and the ball was back in motion, Fery seized the momentum with a remarkable surge.
He rattled off five consecutive games, flipping the scoreboard in his favor and breaking De Minaur’s serve twice. By the end of that run, the British teenager was up 6‑5, a full set ahead of the Australian and on the brink of an upset. The shift in energy was palpable; the crowd sensed a potential turning point as Fery’s aggressive baseline play and precise shot‑making began to dominate. However, De Minaur, a seasoned competitor known for his composure under pressure, steadied himself.
He fought back, holding his serve and eventually forcing a tiebreak after the set reached 6‑6. In the decisive tiebreak, the Australian’s experience shone through. He executed a series of powerful forehands and deft volleys, ultimately clinching the tiebreak 7‑3 and sealing the match. Looking ahead, De Minaur, now 27, will meet the winner of the Arthur Fils versus Jiří Lehečka contest to determine who advances to the quarter‑finals.
For Fery, the loss is a setback, but it comes at a crucial juncture as the US Open looms on the horizon. The 24‑year‑old British player, who captured the public’s imagination with a stunning run to the Wimbledon semi‑finals in July, will aim to build on that momentum and translate it into success on the hard courts of Flushing Meadows. In addition to his individual pursuits, Fery received a significant honor earlier in the week: he was named to the Great Britain Davis Cup squad for the home qualifying tie against Ecuador scheduled for next month. He will join forces with fellow Britons Cameron Norrie, and the doubles specialists Henry Patten and Lloyd Glasspool, forming a formidable lineup intent on securing promotion.
The Davis Cup selection underscores Fery’s growing stature within British tennis. He previously featured in the 2025 Davis Cup play‑off against Poland, where he dispatched Olaf Pieczkowski in straight sets, contributing to the team's advancement to the 2026 qualifiers.
The British camp still has one more slot to fill, and a possible candidate is Jack Draper, who could return to form after a year marred by injuries. While Fery’s Cincinnati story unfolded, the tournament also highlighted the dominance of defending champion Iga Świątek.
The Polish star recovered from a set down to overcome Maria Sakkari, securing her seventh consecutive Cincinnati title. Świątek, seeded seventh, demonstrated why she remains a force on the WTA Tour, snapping a brief dip in the opening set—where Sakkari, the world No. 29, claimed a 6‑4 advantage—by responding with a decisive 6‑1 second set and a 6‑1 third set, extending her winning streak to eight matches.
Świątek’s next challenge will be against France’s Diane Parry, ranked 66th globally, in the round of 16. Meanwhile, the ATP and WTA tours continue to be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with the US Open set to launch its coverage on August 30.
Fans can also stream matches without a contract via NOW, ensuring broad access to the sport’s biggest moments. The Cincinnati Open, a Masters 1000 event, remains a pivotal stop on the road to the US Open, offering players a chance to fine‑tune their games on hard courts while navigating the unpredictable weather that New York’s Midwest region often presents. For Arthur Fery, the experience—both the rain‑induced interruptions and the fierce comeback—will serve as valuable preparation for the challenges that lie ahead in the final Grand Slam of the year.