Fery fights back to reach Winston-Salem semis
Arthur Fery recovered from a set down to defeat Aleksandar Kovacevic 3-6 7-5 6-3 in the Winston-Salem Open quarter-finals. The British fourth seed will face James Duckworth in the last four after the Australian beat Fabian Marozsan. Fery, ranked 37th, will make his US Open main-draw debut against Lorenzo Musetti.
Fery’s comeback in Winston-Salem extends a breakthrough summer that began with a surprise Wimbledon semi-final run, which propelled him into the top 40. His victory over Kovacevic marks his first ATP semi-final since that grass-court performance, and he now holds a recent head-to-head edge over Duckworth from their Cincinnati meeting. The ranking gains also secured his maiden US Open main-draw berth, though he narrowly missed seeding and faces a tough opener against Musetti. Meanwhile, rain disrupted British qualifying hopes, with Toby Samuel the lone success after Garin retired.
Fery’s rise could inspire younger British players by demonstrating that consistent results on the ATP tour translate into Grand Slam opportunities. His US Open debut may draw increased domestic viewership and media attention, potentially boosting grassroots interest in tennis. However, his unseeded draw against a top-15 opponent highlights the steep challenge for emerging players, which could temper expectations about immediate major success.