AUSTRALIAN OPEN

January 18, 2026

Arthur Fery

Press Conference

A. FERY/F. Cobolli

7-6, 6-4, 6-1

THE MODERATOR: Congratulations on your win today. How did you feel out there in Melbourne Park.

ARTHUR FERY: Thanks. Yeah, I felt great. I felt very comfortable on that court. Obviously playing three matches beforehand in quallies really helped. Yeah, I love Melbourne in general.

Q. On court you were asked about the whole 20th seed thing. I wonder how does this compare to the Wimbledon win?

ARTHUR FERY: Very different because it's abroad. It's a slam away from Wimbledon. I mean, yeah, 20th seed, completely different players as well.

So, yeah, I mean, obviously when you see the draw, you play a seed, you know you need your best tennis to get through. Maybe, yeah, it was a good thing for me as well to know that I had to really play well and, yeah, bring my best tennis today to have a chance. I thought I did that. I felt really at that level.

Q. He was obviously in a bit of a pickle physically. At what stage did you notice that and were you proud to do what you did to move around and took advantage of that?

ARTHUR FERY: I wasn't really paying too much attention to him. Obviously he had the physios on and off the court at the start. I knew his stomach was bothering him.

But then he broke me a few times and was encouraging himself. Yeah, there was nothing really that I could do about his physical state. I just tried to focus on myself and put my game on the court and my best foot forward every time.

Q. Did you feel nervous today or feel at home?

ARTHUR FERY: Yeah, of course nervous beforehand. But at the same time I came through quallies, I'm playing a guy who is way higher ranked than me, so I feel I have nothing to lose.

And yeah, felt like I held my nerve really well in the third set. Yeah, it's easy to hold back a little bit when you know you're very close to the finishing line. But, yeah, I felt like I did a really good job today, as in the last round of quallies as well to, yeah, get through it without any real nerves, yeah.

Q. What's it like waiting a good five minutes for a video replay recall?

ARTHUR FERY: Yeah, I didn't know what was going on there, but I knew it was worth it. When I asked for the video replay, I knew the ball kid was still running, so it was worth the wait.

Q. The one before?

ARTHUR FERY: The one before? Yeah, it was good that it was at changeover. I knew I hadn't really touched the net, so I guess more time to recover.

Q. And in general, what are you most happy about the way your game matches up with the top players?

ARTHUR FERY: Yeah, I just feel really confident. I feel I don't have to overplay with, yeah, to play with guys like that.

Yeah, with Prizmic in quallies and Cobolli today, I felt like I was really, yeah, fine to stick from the back with them. I feel like I'm able to reproduce that level.

Q. Obviously a late night, early morning back home, I'm wondering if anyone stayed up family wise and if you've been in touch?

ARTHUR FERY: Yeah, of course. It was a midnight start in the UK. Of course, family and friends watching.

No, I mean also a lot of Brits in the stadium today I thought. Yeah, it was great to have that support as well.

Q. But with family who was watching back home and have you spoken to them?

ARTHUR FERY: Yeah, my mum flew over once I qualified. So she was here today. But yeah, I mean, yeah, the rest of my family, brother, sister, dad and friends, obviously stayed up to watch. Yeah, so far I have only played four main draw slams, and this is the first one outside Wimbledon. So it's a big event for me and everyone around me.

Q. Is it a last-minute decision from your mum or was she always going to come out?

ARTHUR FERY: We haven't spoken about that much. When I won that last round, she asked me if she could come. I was, Of course, it would be nice to have you here. It's obviously it's a long way, but at least I made it worth it. She can see at least two matches - hopefully more.

Q. Did she ever give you a vote?

ARTHUR FERY: Yeah, especially when I was younger. Now, not so much. She leaves me with my coaches to talk about tennis. But, yeah, I mean like everyone's mum and dad I guess they give you life advice.

Q. Is it beneficial for you that you have someone in the game. Tennis parents are known for being opinionated, not always educated. But yours are better than that?

ARTHUR FERY: Yes, 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.

Q. Was your dad a player? He had a football club?

ARTHUR FERY: Yeah, he plays a bit of tennis and is into other sports as well. He just follows sports. My mum obviously played tennis at a high level. Yeah, so having both of them in sport has really helped me.

Q. Do you follow other sports?

ARTHUR FERY: Do I follow other sports? Yes, I follow other sports. Football, basketball, Formula 1, darts if you want to call it a sport (smiling.) No, it's a sport. Yeah, in general, I'm a sports fan.

Q. What is your football team?

ARTHUR FERY: I would say Chelsea, but I'm not a big supporter, yeah.

Q. At Wimbledon there is sort of a stereotype that the Brits can do well on grass, cause some upsets. How satisfying is it to prove that you can do that here outside the UK on a hardcourt?

ARTHUR FERY: Very satisfying. Very satisfying. I was already happy to qualify here for my first time in the quallies of a slam on my own. And, yeah, now obviously coming through quallies and winning a round it's, yeah, I'm proud of it.

I mean, I was hoping that at some point I was going to be able to play other slams without needing wildcards. So yeah, that's a good step forward for my career for sure.

Q. Just another tough one next, Etcheverry. How much have you seen of him?

ARTHUR FERY: I don't know too much about him. Obviously he's been on tour for a while. So I know him, yeah. 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.

Q. (Question regarding feeling pain today.)

ARTHUR FERY: No, I was happy to have two days off between quallies and now. And, no, it was good today. I didn't feel anything. I'll have probably two days off again now. So it will be a nice little recovery.

Q. You went Stanford. Can I ask what was the college experience like for you? How did that set you up for the pros versus the other way tennis players usually go?

ARTHUR FERY: It was a good experience. 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.

Yeah, I wasn't ready to travel 35, 40 weeks a year. So, yeah, college was a great experience. You obviously get a world-class education at Stanford. At the same time you can play loads of matches, 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. Yeah, it's character-building for sure. I was lucky, very lucky, to be around great people and great coaches.

Q. Do you think not being ready, is it common for players, is it the travel that some people need to adjust to?

ARTHUR FERY: Some people. I would say some guys... It's very individual. Some guys are ready to go all guns blazing 35 weeks a year travelling with a coach, or without. That's their identity. They are a tennis player from 18.

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

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

Q. At what point in your development did net play become such a big part of your game?

ARTHUR FERY: I feel like I have always been a pretty aggressive player. When I was younger, yeah, my coaches through my childhood kind of brought me up playing that way. I felt like I had good hands so I could come forward and finish points off at the net.

I'm obviously not the biggest guy either, so sometimes you don't have the firepower to hit winners always from the back of the court, so you have to find ways to finish points. So, yeah, just trying to use that to my advantage.

Q. Did you do the full course at Stamford?

ARTHUR FERY: I have about one year left to graduate. So I did three years out of four.

Q. What was the subject?

ARTHUR FERY: Science, technology in society. Yep, that was the major.

Q. Quite broad.

ARTHUR FERY: Yes. And tennis on the side.