GB's Fery beaten in his first ATP Tour final

Arthur Fery fell short of capturing his first ATP Tour title, losing in straight sets to Peru’s Ignacio Buse in the Winston‑Salem Open final. The 24‑year‑old Briton, who had become a household name after reaching the Wimbledon semi‑finals in July, was defeated 6‑3, 6‑2 on Saturday in North Carolina. By reaching the final, Fery became the first British player to do so at the ATP 250 event and, with the points earned, will move up to world No. 33, overtaking Cameron Norrie as the United Kingdom’s top‑ranked male player.

The match unfolded with a competitive opening, but Buse soon asserted dominance, breaking Fery’s serve to lead 5‑3 in the first set and then extending his advantage with a double break in the second. Although Fery managed to recover one break in the second set, Buse quickly closed out the match by winning three consecutive games to seal the victory. The win marks Buse’s second career title, making him the youngest champion in the tournament’s history after his earlier triumph over Tommy Paul in Hamburg. Both players praised each other’s efforts, with Buse highlighting the hard work of his team and Fery expressing gratitude for his own support staff while acknowledging the disappointment of the loss.

Fery now turns his attention to the US Open, where he will make his debut at Flushing Meadows and face 13th‑seeded Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the opening round. He joins a nine‑player British contingent in the men’s draw, which also includes Norrie, Jan Choinski, qualifiers Toby Samuel and Harry Wendelken, and lucky loser Jacob Fearnley. On the women’s side, Katie Boulter will compete alongside qualifiers Fran Jones and Harriet Dart, though Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu are absent due to injury. The upcoming Grand Slam will test Fery’s ability to build on his breakthrough season and determine whether he can translate his recent successes into deeper runs at the sport’s biggest stages.

⚡ Effects Interpreter