Arthur Fery was denied a maiden ATP Tour title as he lost to Ignacio Buse in the Winston-Salem Open final. The 24-year-old Briton, playing in his second tournament since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals, dropped just one set on his way to the final in North Carolina.
Road to the final
Fery beat Cruz Hewitt, son of former world No1 Lleyton, in the opening round before easing past Mees Rottgering. He then came from a set down to beat Aleksandar Kovacevic in the quarter-finals.
Now ranked world No33 after his run, Fery had to play two matches in one day — his semi-final against James Duckworth and the final against Buse — to fit them in before the US Open first round, which begins on Sunday.
Final defeat and British No1 status
Fery lost 6-3 6-2 to his Peruvian opponent at the ATP 250 event, where he became the first Brit ever to reach the final. The defeat means he becomes British No1, overtaking Cameron Norrie.
Buse, ranked world No36, broke Fery to love for 5-3 in the opening set before securing a double break in the second to seal victory.
US Open ahead
Fery will face Lorenzo Musetti, the 13th seed, in his opening match at Flushing Meadows. He is one of nine Britons in the draw, though Jack Draper and Emma Raducanu are absent through injury. Draper is recovering from a bone injury in his arm, while Raducanu has a stress fracture in her tibia.
