Arthur Fery, the British player who captured the imagination of fans during his Cinderella run at Wimbledon, continued his fairy‑tale 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 Australian wild‑card Cruz Hewitt and qualifier Mees Röttgering. His momentum grew in the quarter‑finals, where he out‑lasted Serbia’s Aleksandar Kovacevic in a tightly contested three‑set battle, demonstrating both resilience and tactical acumen. In the semi‑final, Fery faced fellow Australian James Duckworth, a player he had already bested in Cincinnati just two weeks earlier.
The match appeared to be heading toward a classic showdown until Duckworth was forced to retire due to injury while trailing 6‑4, 1‑2. "I'm really happy to be in the final," Fery said in the post‑match interview, adding that he hoped Duckworth would recover quickly and be ready for the next week’s events.
"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 felt in control from the 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 contender’s ascent has been nothing short of meteoric. Just eight weeks ago he was ranked outside the top 100, yet his Wimbledon semi‑final appearance earlier this summer propelled him into the global spotlight and set the stage for a career‑high ranking that is expected to be confirmed on Monday. His rapid rise illustrates how a breakthrough at a Grand Slam can act as a catalyst for success on the regular tour.
The final, scheduled for Saturday at 9 p.m. BST, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis. Fery’s opponent will be Peru’s rising star 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 another young talent making his second ATP Tour final after a memorable victory at the ATP 500 event in Hamburg earlier this year, where he claimed his first tour‑level title.
"It's going to be another tough match," Fery admitted when asked about the upcoming showdown. "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." Both players are eager to cap a week of impressive performances with a trophy, and the contest promises a clash of contrasting styles – Fery’s aggressive baseline play against Buse’s fluid, all‑court game.
Buse’s career trajectory mirrors Fery’s in many ways. A year ago he was ranked No.
135, but his breakthrough in Hamburg vaulted him into the top‑50 and secured him a seeding at the upcoming US Open, where he will open against American Marcos Giron. For Fery, the Winston‑Salem final serves as a vital preparation ahead of his main‑draw debut at the US Open, which begins on Sunday. He will face a formidable first‑round opponent in Italy’s world No. 14 Lorenzo Musetti, a player renowned for his silky one‑handed backhand and tactical versatility.
The US Open, one of tennis’s four Grand Slam events, will be streamed live on Sky Sports from August 30, offering fans the chance to follow the action without a contract via the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. In addition to the main tournament, viewers can also enjoy coverage of the Laver Cup, taking place at The O2 in London from September 25‑27, further highlighting the busy summer schedule for elite tennis. Fery’s journey from an unheralded qualifier to a Wimbledon semi‑finalist and now a contender for his first ATP final encapsulates the unpredictable nature of professional tennis, where a single breakthrough can reshape a player’s career trajectory. Whether he lifts the Winston‑Salem trophy on Saturday or uses the experience as a stepping stone toward future success, Arthur Fery has already announced himself as a talent to watch on the ATP Tour.
The upcoming final promises high‑quality tennis, with both competitors eager to add another accolade to their burgeoning résumés. Fans can look forward to an exciting match that not only showcases the depth of the current generation but also sets the tone for what could be a remarkable season for both Arthur Fery and Ignacio Buse.