In a stunning display of composure and skill, British qualifier Arthur Fery produced the first major upset of the 2026 Australian Open, dismantling the tournament's 20th seed, Italy's Flavio Cobolli, in straight sets on day one in Melbourne.
A Commanding Performance on the Grand Stage
The 23-year-old from Wimbledon secured a decisive 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-1 victory on John Cain Arena, marking his first Grand Slam win outside of the All England Club. This triumph equals the biggest win of his career, matching his defeat of then-20th seed Alexei Popyrin at Wimbledon last year.
Fery, currently at a career-high ranking of world No. 185, entered the main draw as a direct qualifying entrant for the first time. Remarkably, across his four matches in Melbourne so far—three in qualifying and this first-round clash—he has not dropped a single set.
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. However, the Briton showcased remarkable mental fortitude, holding serve and then dominating the tie-break 7-1. His opponent's challenge was visibly hampered; Cobolli called for the trainer after the very first game, later revealing he was suffering from a severe upset stomach and diarrhoea. After losing the tie-break, the Italian comically sprinted off court, his discomfort evident.
Standing at just 1.75m (5ft 9in), Fery used his exceptional shotmaking to control the match. He applied consistent pressure with clean, early groundstrokes, opened the court with sharp angles, and moved forward to the net with confidence. His defensive resilience and calmness in crucial points were particularly impressive.
"I just feel really confident," Fery said post-match. "I feel I don't have to overplay with guys like that... I felt like I was really fine to stick from the back with them. I feel like I'm able to reproduce that level."
A Journey Spanning Continents Culminates in Breakthrough
This landmark victory is the product of a unique and international tennis journey. Born in France to a French businessman father and a former professional tennis player mother, Fery grew up in Wimbledon. Despite a high junior ranking, he chose the US college tennis route, competing for Stanford University between 2020 and 2023 before turning professional.
His progression has been interrupted by physical setbacks, most notably a bone bruise in his right arm that sidelined him for five months last year. The issue persisted into this season, forcing a retirement in Canberra just weeks ago and casting doubt over his Australian Open participation.
The significance of the moment was shared with family; after Fery successfully navigated the qualifying rounds, his mother Olivia immediately flew to Melbourne to witness his career-best run. "When I won that last [qualifying] round, she asked me if she could come," Fery explained. "I was, 'Of course, it would be nice to have you here.'... at least I made it worth it. She can see at least two matches – hopefully more."
With this commanding win, Arthur Fery not only advances to the second round of a Grand Slam outside Wimbledon for the first time but also loudly announces his arrival as a serious threat on the sport's biggest stages.
