Arthur Fery, the British player who captured the imagination of tennis fans with his Cinderella run to the Wimbledon semifinals, continued his remarkable summer campaign by securing a place in the championship match of the Winston‑Salem Open on Friday. The 24‑year‑old’s journey through the ATP 250 tournament has been a blend of solid, textbook victories and a touch of drama, underscoring his growing reputation on the professional circuit. Fery opened his Winston‑Salem campaign with straightforward wins over the Australian qualifier Cruz Hewitt and the Dutch hopeful Mees Rottgering.
Both matches showcased his ability to dictate play from the baseline, mix powerful serves with precise groundstrokes, and maintain a calm composure under pressure. His confidence grew as he moved into the quarterfinals, where he faced Aleksandar Kovacevic. After dropping the first set, Fery rallied impressively, turning the encounter into a three‑set battle that he ultimately won, demonstrating his resilience and tactical adaptability. The semifinal presented a familiar opponent: Australian James Duckworth, a player Fery had already bested in Cincinnati just two weeks earlier.
The match progressed until Duckworth was forced to retire due to an injury while trailing 6‑4, 1‑2 in Fery’s favor. Though the conclusion was not the ideal finish Fery had envisioned, he expressed genuine happiness at reaching the final and concern for his opponent’s wellbeing. "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 his strong start in the first set and his ability to break Duckworth’s serve despite the Australian’s effective and tricky serving pattern.
He also acknowledged the difficulty of competing against a player who is physically compromised, yet maintained that the overall experience was positive, aside from a missed forehand that he felt could have been cleaner. This appearance in the Winston‑Salem final marks a significant milestone for Fery, who only eight weeks ago was ranked outside the top 100. His meteoric rise this season has been fueled by the confidence gained from his fairy‑tale Wimbledon semifinal run, where he captured the hearts of the British public and the broader tennis community. The upcoming final, scheduled for Saturday at 9 p.m.
BST and broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis, will see Fery take on Peruvian rising star Ignacio Buse, the world No. 36, who earned his spot by defeating Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi 6‑2, 4‑6, 6‑1. Fery spoke candidly about the challenge awaiting him: "It’s going to be another tough match.
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." Buse, only 22, has already made a name for himself by capturing his first tour‑level title at the ATP 500 event in Hamburg earlier this year. A year ago he was ranked No. 135, but his recent performances have earned him a seed at the upcoming US Open, where he will open against American Marcos Giron.
For Fery, the Winston‑Salem final serves as a crucial preparation ahead of his main‑draw debut at the US Open, which begins on Sunday. He will face a daunting first‑round opponent in Italy’s world No. 14 Lorenzo Musetti, a player known for his silky backhand and tactical variety.
The British youngster acknowledges the difficulty of the task but remains optimistic, citing the momentum from his recent successes as a key factor. The US Open will be broadcast live on Sky Sports from August 30, with streaming options available through NOW and the Sky Sports app, allowing fans to follow the action without a contract.
In addition to the Grand Slam, tennis enthusiasts can also look forward to the Laver Cup, which will be staged at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, also televised on Sky Sports. Overall, Arthur Fery’s ascent from an outsider outside the top 100 to a contender in ATP finals and a potential Grand Slam threat epitomizes the unpredictable and thrilling nature of modern tennis. His blend of technical skill, mental toughness, and the ability to seize opportunities on big stages suggests a bright future, and his upcoming showdown with Ignacio Buse promises to be a compelling finale to a week that has already delivered plenty of excitement for fans worldwide.