Fery outclassed by Musetti on US Open debut

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. <p>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.</p><p>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.</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.skysports.com/tennis/scores-schedule"><strong>Latest US Open scores and results</strong></a> \ud83c\udfbe</li><li><strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/tennis/live-blog/32833/13576448/us-open-tennis-news-draw-schedule-results-and-updates-from-flushing-meadows-in-new-york">US Open news blog</a> </strong>I <strong><a href="https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/32833/13577827/us-open-draw-schedule-results-from-the-final-grand-slam-tournament-of-2026-at-flushing-meadows-in-new-york">Men's and Women's draws</a> I <a href="https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/32832/13577913/us-open-2026-order-of-play-and-match-schedule-for-arthur-ashe-stadium-louis-armstrong-stadium-and-more">Order of Play</a></strong></li><li><a href="https://qrcode.skysports.com/skysports/ContentPromo" target="_blank"><strong>Download Sky Sports app for analysis, news and video</strong></a> \ud83d\udcfa</li><li><strong>Not got Sky? </strong><a href="https://www.sky.com/tv/sports?dcmp=Ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>Latest Sky Sports deals</strong></a><strong> or </strong><a href="http://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>stream with no contract on NOW</strong></a>\ud83d\udcf1</li></ul><widget id="1"></widget><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p><p>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.</p> <widget id="4"></widget><h3>'Learning curve for Fery'</h3><p><em>Sky Sports Tennis' Tim Henman:</em></p><p>"Fery will take an enormous amount from this match.</p><p>"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.</p><p>"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."</p><p>Asked where Fery can improve his game, Henman said: "He's got to continue to give himself opportunities to finish point at the net.</p><p>"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.</p><p>"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."</p><h3>Robson: Musetti too good for Fery</h3><p><em>Sky Sports' Tennis Laura Robson:</em></p><p>"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.</p><p>"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.</p><p>"But he came up against such a good opponent."</p> <widget id="3"></widget><h3>Broady not expecting Fery to plateau yet</h3><p><em>Sky Sports' Tennis Naomi Broady:</em></p><p>"Arthur's going to be playing big guys now.</p><p>"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.</p><p>"I wouldn't expect him to plateau and the next few months will be exciting. His ranking can still skyrocket."</p><h3>Musetti: Sticking to the plan key</h3> <widget id="2"></widget><p><em>Lorenzo Musetti speaking on court after his victory:</em></p><p>"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.</p><p>"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.</p><p>"I'm really really happy because I missed two Grand Slams, which was tough, and I'm happy to be back in New York."</p><p><strong>The US Open is live on Sky Sports every day until September 13. </strong><a href="http://www.nowtv.com/membership/watch-sky-sports?DCMP=ilc_skysports_nc_articlelink" target="_blank"><strong>Stream tennis with no contract on NOW</strong></a> <strong>and the <a href="https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11677/12572660/download-the-sky-sports-app-premier-league-goals-f1-race-control-and-more-at-your-fingertips">Sky Sports App</a>. You can also watch the Laver Cup at The O2 in London from 25-27 September live on Sky Sports.</strong></p>