Arthur Fery’s hopes of a fairy-tale debut run at the US Open were ended in the first round by a straight-sets defeat to Lorenzo Musetti at Flushing Meadows.
One week on from reaching the final of the Winston-Salem Open, Fery’s hopes to replicating his magical run to the Wimbledon semi-finals were dashed in a clinical 6-3 6-3 7-5 defeat to the 13th seed.
Fery was crucially broken in the eighth game of the first set as back-to-back double faults gifted the initiative to Musetti, who broke serve again to wrap up the opener 6-3.
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Arthur Fery hit a tweener in a superb rally against Lorenzo Musetti in the US Open
Musetti controlled the second set from behind the baseline, clinically rifling backhand winners down the line to break Fery for a third time in the sixth game. He claimed the set courtesy of two flawless service games.
Fery broke Musetti at the first time of asking in the third. Hopes of a comeback appeared short-lived as the Italian struck back immediately to bring the set back on serve.
Musetti turned the screw, moving from a break down to a break up in the fifth game of the set only to wobble when serving for the match as Fery clawed a lifeline break back.
But unforced errors came back to haunt Fery as Musetti, once again, broke back immediately, as the Italian served out the game at the second time of asking.
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Ryan Harrison analysed Fery’s game ahead of the US Open
‘Learning curve for Fery’
Sky Sports Tennis’ Tim Henman:
“Fery will take an enormous amount from this match.
“What he lacks right now is experience at the highest level. He’s 33 in the world and hasn’t played a great deal of tennis outside the UK at this level.
“To come up against Musetti, who is a world-class player, has been five in the world and reached semi-finals of Grand Slams, provides clear evidence of what he needs to work on.”
Asked where Fery can improve his game, Henman said: “He’s got to continue to give himself opportunities to finish point at the net.
“His forehand side, in these types of [hot] conditions, he can perhaps take the ball a bit earlier and get more penetration through the court.
“He can work on that first serve to get a bit more pace, which is not easy because he’s not the tallest of players, but then he’s got to improve that accuracy.”
Robson: Musetti too good for Fery
Sky Sports’ Tennis Laura Robson:
“Musetti was too good. He had that extra gear to go to with his pace off the racquet and his ability to open up the lines made such a big difference.
“Fery will be a little disappointed that he wasn’t able to hang in that first set. That could have changed the course of the match.
“But he came up against such a good opponent.”
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Ryan Harrison analysed Fery’s game ahead of the US Open
Broady not expecting Fery to plateau yet
Sky Sports’ Tennis Naomi Broady:
“Arthur’s going to be playing big guys now.
“He’s proven himself at the ATP 250 level but now people will start watching him and it becomes a cat and mouse of can he stay ahead of that.
“I wouldn’t expect him to plateau and the next few months will be exciting. His ranking can still skyrocket.”
Musetti: Sticking to the plan key
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Musetti will face Australia’s Dane Sweeny in round two
Lorenzo Musetti speaking on court after his victory:
“That match point at 5-3, I didn’t hit the ball well on the passing shot! Then I had fear and was shaking a bit at 5-4. Even though I served good I missed three easy forehands.
“The key today was my attitude. I was really focused. I didn’t play my best tennis and didn’t feel the ball well but was focused on what I had to do and stuck to the plan that we had before the match.
“I’m really really happy because I missed two Grand Slams, which was tough, and I’m happy to be back in New York.”
The US Open is live on Sky Sports every day until September 13. Stream tennis with no contract on NOW and the Sky Sports App. You can also watch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25-27 September live on Sky Sports.