British tennis player Arthur Fery marked his Australian Open debut with a commanding and statement-making victory, navigating VAR controversy to defeat Italy's Flavio Cobolli in straight sets on John Cain Arena.
Drama and Delay on Debut
The 23-year-old Londoner, who came through qualifying without dropping a set, found his first-round match punctuated by lengthy video review checks. The opening set witnessed two significant delays, with Cobolli challenging a call in the seventh game, arguing Fery had touched the net prematurely. Fery himself then requested a review in the ninth game, believing his opponent had served underarm while a ball boy was still moving.
Both reviews were resolved in Fery's favour, but the wait for the decisions, reminiscent of Premier League football stoppages, tried the patience of both players and the crowd. Despite the interruptions, the world number 185 displayed impressive composure, refusing to let the incidents disrupt his rhythm on one of the sport's biggest stages.
Growing Into the Contest
After shaking off the disappointment of failing to serve out the first set at his first opportunity, Fery dominated the tie-break 7-1. He then adjusted his tactics brilliantly for the second set. Stepping closer to the baseline to take time away from his opponent, the 5ft 9in Brit used his terrific athleticism and fast arm to turn the tables on Cobolli, who had initially been the aggressor.
A superb returning game earned Fery the crucial break to seal the second set 6-4. His confidence visibly soaring, he also demonstrated a fearless approach by frequently advancing to the net, putting constant pressure on the Italian.
A One-Sided Finale
By the third set, the match was entirely in Fery's control. He won eight of the last nine games as a visibly unwell Cobolli faded rapidly. The Italian called for the trainer after just three games of the final set but could muster no response to Fery's dominance. The final scoreline of 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-1 reflected a comprehensive and impressive performance from the debutant.
This significant win on Sunday, 18th January 2026, echoes Fery's breakthrough victory six months earlier, when he toppled 20th seed Alexei Popyrin at Wimbledon. Being drawn against Cobolli, a Wimbledon quarter-finalist and a player of similar stature to Popyrin, proved to be a favourable omen for the young Brit, who was competing in only his fifth Grand Slam main draw match.
