Britain's rising star Arthur Fery saw his campaign at the Cincinnati Open come to an abrupt end, but not before delivering a dramatic resurgence that was ultimately halted by Australia's Alex de Minaur. The match was heavily affected by a series of rain delays that disrupted the rhythm of play at several critical moments. The contest began with De Minaur, the tournament's fifth seed, establishing a solid foothold.
He captured the first set 7-5, and after a brief pause caused by rain, the players returned to the court with De Minaur leading 5-1 in the second set, just one game away from securing a place in the round of 16. At this juncture, the weather cleared, and the match resumed.
Seizing the opportunity, Fery launched an extraordinary run of five consecutive games, completely reversing the momentum. He broke De Minaur's serve twice in rapid succession, turning a seemingly certain defeat into a thrilling 6-5 lead. The British teenager's aggressive baseline play and precise serving put the Australian under immense pressure, and for a brief period it appeared that the match could swing in Fery's favor.
However, De Minaur quickly regained his composure. The experienced Australian steadied his serve, fought back to level the set, and forced a tiebreak. In the decisive breaker, De Minaur's superior shot selection and tactical awareness shone through.
He captured the tiebreak 7-3, sealing the match with a final scoreline of 7-5, 7-6 (7-3). The victory propelled De Minaur into the next round, where he will meet the winner of the Arthur Fils versus Jiri Lehecka encounter for a spot in the quarter‑finals. The timing of this match is particularly significant as the US Open looms on the horizon. Broadcast live on Sky Sports, the 24‑year‑old Fery is eager to build on the momentum generated by his impressive run to the Wimbledon semi‑finals earlier in July.
Although his Cincinnati campaign ended sooner than hoped, his performance against a top‑five seed demonstrated that he can compete at the highest level and handle pressure situations. In addition to his individual tour commitments, Fery received a further accolade on Monday when Great Britain announced his inclusion in the Davis Cup squad for the upcoming home qualifying tie against Ecuador next month.
He will join fellow British players Cameron Norrie, as well as the doubles specialists Henry Patten and Lloyd Glasspool, forming a strong contingent aimed at securing promotion to the World Group. The Davis Cup selection underscores Fery's growing reputation within British tennis. He previously contributed to Great Britain's Davis Cup play‑off victory over Poland in September 2025, defeating Olaf Pieczkowski in straight sets and helping the team advance to the 2026 qualifiers. With another Davis Cup spot still available, there is speculation that Jack Draper could claim it if he manages to recover fully from a season marred by injuries.
While Fery's focus shifts to the Davis Cup and the upcoming US Open, the Cincinnati tournament also produced notable storylines elsewhere. Defending champion Iga Swiatek, seeded seventh, overcame a first‑set deficit to defeat Maria Sakkari and secure her seventh consecutive Cincinnati title. Swiatek, the world No. 5, had appeared to struggle with fatigue early in the match, dropping the opening set 6-4 to the 29th‑seeded Greek.
Yet she rebounded emphatically, winning the next two sets 6-1, 6-1 and extending her winning streak at the event to eight matches. Swiatek's next challenge will be against France's Diane Parry, ranked 66th, in the round of 16. The Cincinnati Open continues to serve as a key preparation event for the US Open, offering players a chance to fine‑tune their games on hard courts under conditions similar to those they will face in New York. For fans, Sky Sports provides live coverage of both the ATP and WTA tours, with the US Open set to begin its broadcast on August 30.
Viewers can also stream matches contract‑free via NOW, ensuring broad access to the sport's biggest moments. Overall, Arthur Fery's Cincinnati experience, though cut short, highlighted his resilience and capacity to challenge top‑ranked opponents.
The rain‑induced interruptions added an unpredictable element, but they also showcased his ability to adapt quickly and mount a comeback when the conditions permitted. As the tennis calendar moves forward, all eyes will be on his performance in the Davis Cup and the upcoming Grand Slam, where he will aim to translate the promise shown in Cincinnati into deeper runs and perhaps his first major title.