Britain's Arthur Fery has advanced to his first ATP Tour final at the Winston-Salem Open after his Australian opponent James Duckworth was unable to continue competing due to injury during their semi-final match. The 24-year-old held a commanding 6-4 2-1 advantage when Duckworth, who had requested medical attention following the opening set, withdrew from the contest.
Fery's progression to the final represents a historic milestone for British tennis at this ATP 250 event, as he becomes the first player from Great Britain to reach the championship match. His achievement caps an extraordinary period of form that began with his breakthrough run to the Wimbledon semi-finals in July, which transformed his career trajectory in the space of just eight weeks.
The 24-year-old's rise has been meteoric. Before his Wimbledon semi-final appearance, Fery was ranked outside the top 100. He has now climbed to a career-high ranking of 33rd in the world, surpassing Cameron Norrie to claim the position of British number one.
In his path to the final, Fery demonstrated resilience and skill. According to tournament records, the fourth-seeded Fery mounted a comeback victory in the quarter-finals against American Aleksandar Kovacevic, recovering from a set down to win 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. He also progressed through earlier rounds against Cruz Hewitt and Mees Rottgering before reaching the semi-finals.
Speaking after his semi-final advancement, Fery expressed mixed emotions about the manner of his progression.
I am really happy to be in the final. Not the way I wanted it to end at all. I hope James will get well soon and rest up for next week. But I am very happy to be through.
Who will Fery face in the final?
Fery's opponent in the championship match will be Peru's Ignacio Buse, the 22-year-old who defeated France's Benjamin Bonzi 6-2 4-6 6-1 in the other semi-final. The match is scheduled for Saturday, 30 August 2026, on Stadium Court in North Carolina, following the tournament's order of play.
Buse, ranked 36th in the world, arrives at the final as a formidable competitor. The Peruvian is chasing his second title of the season, having claimed his first at the ATP 500 event in Hamburg in May when he defeated American Tommy Paul.
What comes next for Fery?
Fery's participation in the Winston-Salem final comes at a critical moment in his season, with the US Open beginning immediately after. He narrowly missed out on securing a seeding at Flushing Meadows and has been drawn against Italian 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti in the opening round. According to tournament scheduling, this first-round match is set for 30 August 2026.
Beyond the US Open, Fery has also been selected for Great Britain's Davis Cup team for the upcoming tie against Ecuador, underlining his emergence as a key player for his country.
Key Facts
- Fery is the first British player to reach the ATP 250 final at Winston-Salem
- He has climbed from outside the top 100 eight weeks ago to a career-high ranking of 33rd
- His opponent Buse is ranked 36th and won the Hamburg ATP 500 title earlier this season
- The final takes place on Saturday, 30 August 2026, before Fery's US Open first-round match against Musetti the same day
