'I wasn't ready to travel': Inside Arthur Fery's mission to achieve top 100 goal

(Getty/Cameron Spencer)

Arthur Fery, the unheralded world No.186 from Great Britain, delivered the first shock of the 2026 Australian Open, just hours after the gates opened, taking down 20th-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli, 7-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Despite the Italian struggling with his fitness at times, it was a stunning win from Fery, who came through qualifying just to make it into the main draw.

Fery, speaking after the match, suggested playing the three matches beforehand, and then drawing a top seed, may have played in his favour.

"Of course [I was] nervous beforehand. But at the same time I came through qualies, I'm playing a guy who is way higher ranked than me, so I feel I have nothing to lose," he said.

The First Serve Live returns on Monday February 2nd at 8pm AEDT for its 18th year on the SEN Network/App, Australia's only dedicated weekly tennis program on commercial radio running through till the end of November.

This is Fery's first main draw Slam appearance outside of Wimbledon, where he has received three Wildcards. Ironically, his sole win at those three appearances was at the 2025 event, where he also upset the 20th seed, Australia's Alexei Popyrin. Fery saw the coincidence, but couldn't really compare the two wins.

"Very different because it's abroad. It's a Slam away from Wimbledon. I mean, yeah, 20th seed, completely different players as well," Fery admitted.

In his short career so far, Fery has five ITF titles and one Challenger title under his belt, when Bernard Tomic pulled out of the final in Colombia to prioritise US Open qualifying.

Fery's family is no stranger to the tennis circuit, with his mother, Olivia, having played on the WTA circuit in the 90s and featured in Roland-Garros qualifying. She wasn't going to miss her son playing the main draw in Australia.

"My mum flew over once I qualified, so she was here today," Fery shared.

"When I won that last round, she asked me if she could come. I was [like], 'Of course, it would be nice to have you here'. It's obviously a long way, but at least I made it worth it. She can see at least two matches - hopefully more."

Having someone in the family who understands the rigours of professional tennis has been a great help during Fery's transition through the ranks.

"It definitely really helped when I was younger in my development to have two parents who know how pro-sport works and the pressures of it, and keeping a good balance between, yeah, trying to develop tennis but also having a life and having an education and keeping your kid balanced when he is young. Very important. I'm very lucky for that."

Fery admits that he's probably now just starting to mature into a tennis player, and that he wasn't one of those players who were ready to hit the tour in his teenage years.

He attended Stanford, where he studied science and technology in society, while developing his tennis game.

"It was a good experience. Did three years there. It's very different to going pro straightaway. I think I wasn't quite ready for the pro tour at 18 when I came out of juniors," he shared.

"I wasn't ready to travel 35, 40 weeks a year. So college was a great experience. You obviously get a world-class education at Stanford. At the same time, you can play loads of matches [and] develop as a player.

"You are left to your own a little bit more than if you have a travelling coach all the time with you. It's character-building for sure. I was lucky, very lucky, to be around great people and great coaches.

"I was still in normal school until 16. I did A levels, home school at home playing juniors, but tennis wasn't my life at 18. Now I feel like it is. It's my job.

"I feel like I fully live and breathe tennis, but at 18, I think I still needed to have education and that balance in my life."

Fery began the season at a career high of No.185, but already he'll find himself at least inside the world's top 150 after this week, meaning a top 100 target this year should be on his radar.

Next up for Fery is Argentina's Tomás Martín Etcheverry, who overcame Miomir Kecmanović in a tough five-setter. While Fery might not know a lot about his next opponent, if he continues this form, we might see him around Melbourne Park for a few more days.

"I don't know too much about him. Obviously he's been on tour for a while. So I know him. I've seen some matches, but not too much. I guess we'll speak about it with my coach and come with a good game plan."

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