In a stunning display of composure and skill, Britain's Arthur Fery produced the first major upset of the 2026 Australian Open, dismantling the 20th seed, Italy's Flavio Cobolli, in straight sets to storm into the second round.
A Breakthrough Performance on the Grand Slam Stage
The 23-year-old qualifier, ranked a career-high world number 185, triumphed 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-1 on the opening day in Melbourne. This marks Fery's first Grand Slam victory outside of Wimbledon and equals the biggest win of his career, matching his defeat of then-20th seed Alexei Popyrin at Wimbledon last year.
Fery's path to the main draw was impressive in itself, having come through the qualifying rounds without dropping a single set. This was his first appearance at a major as a direct qualifying entrant, a significant step up from his previous three Grand Slam participations, which came via wildcards at Wimbledon.
Overcoming Adversity and Seizing the Moment
The match was not without its tense moments. Serving for the first set at 5-4, Fery was broken, finding himself under pressure at 5-6 down. However, the young Briton showcased remarkable mental fortitude, holding his nerve to force a tie-break, which he dominated 7-1.
His opponent, Cobolli, was visibly struggling from the outset, calling for the trainer after the very first game. The Italian later revealed he had been suffering from a severe upset stomach and diarrhoea. His discomfort was starkly illustrated when, after losing the tie-break, he comically sprinted off the court at full speed. From that point, Fery controlled the match with minimal opposition.
Standing at just 1.75 metres (5ft 9in), Fery used his excellent shotmaking to dictate play. He applied consistent pressure with clean groundstrokes, opened the court with sharp angles, and moved forward aggressively to the net. His defensive resilience and composure in the key moments were particularly noteworthy.
A Journey Spanning Continents and Setbacks
Fery's breakthrough is the culmination of a unique and patient development path. Born in France to a wealthy businessman father and a former professional tennis player mother, he grew up in Wimbledon. Despite a high junior ranking, he chose the US college route, playing for Stanford University, before turning professional in the summer of 2023.
His rise has been hampered by physical issues, most notably a persistent bone bruise in his right arm that sidelined him for five months last year. The problem flared up again just before Melbourne, forcing a retirement in Canberra and casting doubt over his Australian Open participation.
His confidence, however, never wavered. "I just feel really confident," Fery said after his win. "I feel I don't have to overplay with guys like that... I feel like I'm able to reproduce that level."
The victory was made even more special by the presence of his mother, Olivia, who flew out after he qualified. "When I won that last [qualifying] round, she asked me if she could come," Fery shared. "I was, 'Of course, it would be nice to have you here.'... At least I made it worth it."
Arthur Fery's emphatic win not only propels him into the Australian Open second round but also signals the arrival of a serious and resilient talent on the Grand Slam stage.
