Arthur Fery’s US Open debut ends in straight-sets loss to Musetti
The British No 1 acknowledges significant gaps in his game after falling to the 13th seed in New York, citing serve struggles and limited preparation following a recent ATP final.
Britain’s Arthur Fery has exited the US Open in the first round after a straight-sets defeat to 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti on Grandstand Stadium. The 24-year-old, currently ranked 33rd in the world, described the loss as a useful gauge of the margins required to compete at the highest level of professional tennis.
Fery arrived at Flushing Meadows following a historic run to the Wimbledon semi-finals as a wildcard earlier this summer. He also reached his first ATP final at the Winston-Salem Open the previous week. However, the British No 1 admitted that his preparation for the Grand Slam was limited due to that recent campaign in North Carolina, though he stated he would not have altered his decision to compete.
Reflecting on the match, Fery identified his serve as a primary area of concern, noting that he struggled to find his rhythm. “My serve really let me down today, which is not usually the case,” he said. “I’ve been struggling a little bit to find my rhythm on the serve. Today was particularly a struggle, but definitely playing guys at that level, it’s tough and the margins are small.”
Sky Sports analyst Tim Henman suggested that Fery’s experience at the highest level remains a developing factor. Henman noted that Fery has not played a great deal of tennis outside the UK at this tier of competition. He advised that Fery must improve the pace and accuracy of his first serve, take the ball earlier on the forehand side, and create more opportunities to finish points at the net.
Laura Robson highlighted Musetti’s ability to open up lines and generate pace as decisive factors in the outcome. Robson observed that Fery’s inability to hold his own in the first set likely altered the trajectory of the match, though she acknowledged the quality of the opposition.
Naomi Broady predicted that Fery’s ranking could continue to rise as he faces tougher opposition in upcoming Masters 1000 events in Shanghai and Paris. Broady suggested that while Fery has proven himself at the ATP 250 level, the next few months will test his ability to maintain his position against the sport’s elite.
