Arthur Fery, the British player who captured attention with his fairy‑tale run at Wimbledon, continued his impressive summer by booking a place in the championship match of the Winston‑Salem Open on Friday. The 24‑year‑old has navigated the ATP 250 tournament with a series of confident performances, beginning with straightforward victories over American Cruz Hewitt and qualifier Mees Rottgering. Those wins set the stage for a hard‑fought three‑set triumph over Aleksandar Kovacevic in the quarter‑finals, which propelled him into the semi‑finals. In the semi‑final, Fery faced Australian James Duckworth, a player he had already bested in Cincinnati just two weeks earlier.
The match progressed until Duckworth was forced to retire because of an injury while trailing 6‑4, 1‑2. Despite the abrupt ending, Fery expressed genuine happiness at reaching the final, while also wishing his opponent a swift recovery. "I'm really happy to be in the final," he said.
"Obviously, not the way I wanted it to end at all. I hope James is going to rest up and get ready for next week but very happy to be through." Fery reflected on his performance, noting that he had a strong start. "I played well in the first set.
He was serving very well and tricky but managed to get the break and from then on I thought I was playing good. He was hindered at the start of the second set and I saw it.
It's never easy playing someone who you know is physically challenged, but overall it felt good apart from that last forehand." The British star's journey this season has been nothing short of remarkable. Just eight weeks ago, he was ranked outside the top 100, and his Wimbledon semi‑final appearance earlier this summer catapulted him into the spotlight. The Winston‑Salem final offers him a chance to claim his first ATP Tour final and to climb even higher in the world rankings, potentially setting a new career high on Monday. The final will be contested on Saturday at 9 p.m.
BST and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. Fery's opponent is Peru's Ignacio Buse, the world No. 36, who earned his place by defeating Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 6‑2, 4‑6, 6‑1. Buse, only 22, is emerging as a promising talent after capturing his maiden tour‑level title at the ATP 500 event in Hamburg in May.
A year ago he was ranked No. 135, but his recent form has secured him a seeded position at the upcoming US Open, where he will meet American Marcos Giron in the opening round. Speaking about the upcoming showdown, Fery acknowledged the challenge ahead. "It's going to be another tough match," he admitted.
"Ignacio is playing really well. He's a young guy who is breaking out so it's going to be a great match.
Definitely a good week for both of us and I'm going to sit down with my coach and see what I can do to beat him." Beyond the immediate stakes, the Winston‑Salem final serves as a crucial preparation for the US Open, which begins on August 30. Fery is slated to make his main‑draw debut at Flushing Meadows, where he will face Italy's world No.
14 Lorenzo Musetti in the first round—a daunting assignment for any newcomer. Musetti, known for his elegant one‑handed backhand and tactical versatility, will test Fery's growing confidence and adaptability on the hard courts of New York.
For tennis fans in the United Kingdom, the US Open will be available live on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options through NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering contract‑free access to matches, highlights, and exclusive video content. The network also promotes other upcoming events, such as the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25‑27 September, which will be streamed on the same platforms. Arthur Fery's ascent from an unheralded player outside the top hundred to a contender in two consecutive ATP finals underscores the unpredictable and thrilling nature of professional tennis.
His Wimbledon semi‑final run captured the imagination of British supporters, and his continued success at Winston‑Salem suggests that his breakthrough may be only the beginning. Whether he lifts the trophy on Saturday or uses the experience to fine‑tune his game for the US Open, Fery has firmly announced himself as a rising star to watch in the months ahead.