A Tough Draw for Britain's New Number One
Arthur Fery's long-awaited US Open debut did not deliver the fairytale result that his remarkable Wimbledon run had hinted was possible. The British number one, ranked 33rd in the world after rising from outside the top 200 just a year ago, ran into Italian 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti on day three at Flushing Meadows and lost 6-3, 6-3, 7-5 in straight sets. Fery came frustratingly close to earning a seeded spot at the tournament, which is reserved for the top 32 players, meaning he met a dangerous opponent far earlier than he might have otherwise. Musetti, who has reached the semi-finals at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon and made the quarter-finals at this tournament last year, was returning to form after missing two majors through a thigh injury, and he showed exactly why he belongs among the tour's elite.
Serve Struggles and Silver Linings
Fery pointed to his serve as the key problem, noting that double faults at critical moments gifted Musetti the early break that helped him control the opening set. Musetti's one-handed backhand caused repeated problems throughout, and although Fery pushed hard in the third set after falling two sets down, the Italian held firm. Fery wore ear plugs during changeovers, a focus technique he also used at Wimbledon, to block out the famously noisy atmosphere at Flushing Meadows. Despite the result, Fery expressed no regret about his busy schedule leading into the event. He had just reached his first career ATP Tour final at the Winston-Salem Open the previous week, collecting valuable ranking points along the way. "Would I sign for these past two weeks? Probably, to be honest," he said. The margins at the top are small, he acknowledged, but the direction of travel remains upward. TennisDraw users had Musetti circled as a dangerous early-round threat given his return to fitness heading into this match.
