Arthur Fery falls short of first ATP title as Ignacio Buse cruises to Winston-Salem crown

Sunday, 30 August 2026 at 00:30

Arthur Fery came up short in his first ATP final as the British No. 1 suffered a heavy defeat to Ignacio Buse at the Winston-Salem Open. Fery, seeded fourth in North Carolina, was beaten 6-3, 6-2 by the Peruvian, who secured the second title of his career in dominant fashion.

It was nevertheless another important week for Fery, who has enjoyed a remarkable rise over the past few months. The 24-year-old reached the Wimbledon semifinals as a wildcard just weeks ago, doing so while ranked No. 114 and without ever having broken into the Top 100. Winston-Salem was his first ATP 250 final and another major step in his rapid development.

Fery arrived in the final after defeating Cruz Hewitt, Mees Rottgering and Aleksandar Kovacevic before receiving a place in the championship match following James Duckworth's retirement. The Australian was unable to complete their semifinal after falling a set behind and experiencing physical discomfort, with the decision also coming with the US Open only days away.

The final presented Fery with another major opportunity against world No. 36 Buse, who had already won an ATP 500 title earlier this season. It was their first meeting, with both players arriving in excellent form, but Buse quickly took control once the opening set reached its decisive stages.

Buse takes control after one crucial break

Both players looked comfortable on serve during the opening games, trading holds without offering a break opportunity. That remained the pattern until 3-3, when Fery suddenly found himself under pressure.

Buse created three break points and converted the first major opportunity of the match. Fery was unable to respond immediately, allowing the Peruvian to consolidate his advantage and take the opening set 6-3 after 32 minutes.

The second set became even more one-sided. Buse immediately carried his momentum into the next phase, breaking Fery twice in succession to move 3-0 ahead and win six games in a row.

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Fery refused to go away quietly and recovered one of the breaks to reduce the deficit to 3-2. However, the Brit could not produce the second part of the comeback. Buse regained control, won three consecutive games and secured another break before serving out the match on his third match point.

The 6-3, 6-2 victory therefore gave Buse his second professional title, while Fery was left to settle for the runner-up position after a week that nevertheless strengthened his growing credentials.

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Fery takes another step forward before the US Open

Fery will take plenty of positives from Winston-Salem despite the disappointing final. His run has continued a breakthrough period that began with his unexpected Wimbledon charge and has now translated into strong results on hard courts.

The Brit also earns valuable ranking points and moves towards a career-high position in the ATP Rankings, while reclaiming the British No. 1 position from Cameron Norrie.

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His attention will now immediately turn towards New York, where he will make his US Open main-draw debut with a direct entry. The draw, however, has given him another difficult challenge.

Fery will face 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti in the first round. The pair have never previously met, adding another layer of intrigue to a match between two players heading in very different directions this season.

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Musetti has struggled to maintain the level that previously took him into the Top 5 and made him a genuine Grand Slam contender, but his quarter-final run at the Cincinnati Open offered encouraging signs. The Italian is gradually rebuilding his confidence on hard courts and will be a major test for Fery.

For the British No. 1, the US Open now provides another opportunity to show that his Wimbledon breakthrough and first ATP final were not isolated moments, but the beginning of a much bigger rise.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

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