British tennis player Arthur Fery has made a spectacular start to his Australian Open campaign, securing a stunning first-round victory against the 20th seed, Italy's Flavio Cobolli. The 23-year-old qualifier, ranked 185th in the world, triumphed in straight sets on the John Cain Arena, winning 7-6, 6-4, 6-1 on Sunday, 18 January 2026.
A Mother's Last-Minute Journey Rewarded
Fery's victory was made even more special by the presence of his mother, Olivia, a former professional tennis player, who made a frantic dash to Melbourne after his final qualifying win. While his father and siblings watched from the UK, Olivia embarked on the long-haul flight to support her son's grand slam debut.
"When I won that last round, she asked me if she could come," Fery revealed. "I said, '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." Fery comes from a high-achieving sporting family; his father, Loic, is the owner and president of French Ligue 1 football club FC Lorient.
Commanding Performance Against a Top Seed
The British number seven, who did not drop a set during qualifying, continued his impressive form against an opponent who reached the Wimbledon quarter-finals just last summer. Cobolli, however, appeared hampered by stomach problems throughout the match. Fery's win mirrors his breakthrough at Wimbledon six months prior, where he also defeated a 20th seed, Australia's Alexei Popyrin.
The opening set was disrupted by two lengthy video review delays, more common in football than tennis. Cobolli challenged that Fery had touched the net, while Fery later successfully challenged that his opponent had served while a ball boy was still moving. "I didn't really know what was going on, but I knew it was worth it," Fery said of the wait.
Confidence Growing for the British Prospect
After sealing the first set in a tie-break, Fery played a superb returning game to take the second before breezing through the third set. This marks only his fifth appearance in a grand slam main draw, yet he displayed notable composure. A standout junior, Fery chose to study at Stanford University before turning fully professional, and his career has also been interrupted by a bone bruise in his arm.
"I just feel really confident," Fery stated. "I don't feel like I have to overplay to compete with guys like that." He believes his parents' understanding of elite sport has been crucial. "They know how professional sport works, the pressures that come with it and how important it is to keep a good balance. I'm very lucky in that sense."
Fery will now face Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round, aiming to extend his dream run in Melbourne and his mother's visit.
