US Open 2026 results: Arthur Fery’s debut ended by Lorenzo Musetti in first round
This was only British number one Fery’s second appearance at an overseas major, following his maiden Australian Open campaign in January.
He was made to wait longer than he might have anticipated to make his tournament bow on a rain-delayed third day at Flushing Meadows, and the match was eventually contested in hot and humid conditions.
Fresh from reaching his first ATP Tour final at the Winston-Salem Open, Fery appeared at home on Grandstand – the US Open’s third-biggest arena.
The Briton wore ear plugs during each change of ends, just as he did at Wimbledon, to maintain focus at a tournament which is notorious for the hum of constant noise.
But it was not enough for Fery to concoct a gameplan which could beat Musetti.
Despite a promising start, Fery gifted his opponent the breakthrough with back-to-back double faults, before losing serve again to concede the first set.
Musetti’s trademark one-handed backhand repeatedly hurt Fery and helped him take charge of the second set.
Refusing to lose hope after falling two sets down, Fery threatened to launch a fightback in the third when he broke for the first time to take a 2-0 lead.
That revival was short-lived. Musetti produced an immediate response, embarking on a four-game run as the errors began creeping in for the fading Fery.
While Fery saved a first match point on his serve, and kept the crowd engaged by breaking back to level at five games apiece, he was again left frustrated by his inability to back it up.
Musetti pointed to his head in celebration after eventually seizing his third match point and setting up a second-round meeting with Australian Dane Sweeny.
“He makes you really work for points, exposes weaknesses, but I was getting better and better as the match went on,” said Fery.
“I slowly started to get used to the conditions and play better tennis until a really bad game at 5-5 in the third set.
“Then the match was over when I was feeling I could get into it.”