In a stunning start to the 2026 Australian Open, British qualifier Arthur Fery has delivered the tournament's first major shock, ousting the 20th seed, Italy's Flavio Cobolli, in straight sets on his main draw debut in Melbourne.
A Debut to Remember for the British Underdog
The 23-year-old Fery, ranked a lowly 186th in the world, produced a commanding performance to win 7-6 (1), 6-4, 6-1. His opponent, Cobolli, a rising star who played a key role in Italy's recent Davis Cup triumph, was visibly hampered by a stomach bug, requiring a medical timeout and doctor's visit during the match.
This victory marks a significant milestone for Fery, who had previously won a main-draw match at Wimbledon last year. Interestingly, that win also came against a 20th seed—Australia's Alexei Popyrin. "It seems I like drawing 20th seeds at grand slams," Fery joked in his on-court interview.
From Stanford Scholar to Grand Slam Contender
Fery's path to this upset has been unconventional. Born in France to a tennis-playing mother, Olivia, and businessman father Loic, the president of French football club FC Lorient, he was fluent in French and enjoyed a balanced upbringing. "It definitely really helped when I was younger... to have two parents who know how pro-sport works," he reflected.
Rather than turning professional immediately, Fery chose the US college route, accepting a tennis scholarship to Stanford University between 2020 and 2023. There, he studied for a degree in science and technology and rose to become the top-ranked singles player in the college system. "I think I wasn't quite ready for the pro tour at 18," Fery admitted, highlighting the character-building aspect of college tennis.
Building Momentum on the Professional Circuit
Fery's recent form has been promising. He broke into the world's top 185 at the start of 2026, secured his first Challenger title, and made a successful Davis Cup debut for Great Britain in September, replacing the injured Jack Draper and Jacob Fearnley.
His run in Melbourne is particularly impressive as he has now won four matches, having battled through the qualifying rounds. He expressed pride in earning his place without a wildcard: "I was hoping that at some point I was going to be able to play other slams without needing wildcards. So that's a good step forward for my career for sure."
What Comes Next for the British Qualifier?
Fery's reward for the giant-killing win is a second-round clash with Argentina's Tomas Martín Etcheverry, a player with a career-high ranking of 27 who famously beat Andy Murray in the Scot's final Australian Open match last year.
With his mother having flown out to Australia just in time to witness his first-round triumph, Fery will hope to extend her stay. "At least I made it worth it," he said. "She can see at least two matches - hopefully more." Having already proven he can topple the seeded elite, Arthur Fery's unique journey is capturing the attention of the tennis world.
