Melbourne: The Australian Open men’s singles draw witnessed drama on Day 1 as World No. 185 Arthur Fery pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the tournament, defeating 20th seed Flavio Cobolli, while third seed Alexander Zverev was forced to dig deep before advancing to the second round.
According to an ATP Tour report, Fery — playing just his second Australian Open main draw — produced a fearless performance to beat the Italian 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-1, announcing himself on the Grand Slam stage in emphatic fashion.
Fery’s Breakthrough Moment
The 23-year-old Briton showed remarkable composure in the opening tie-break before taking full control of the match. Ranked well outside the world’s top 100, Fery dominated from the baseline and capitalised on Cobolli’s growing discomfort to seal the biggest win of his career.
“It’s pretty surreal. Playing on this stage and beating a seeded player means a lot,” Fery said after the match, as quoted by the ATP Tour.
The victory marks Fery’s first Grand Slam win of the season and puts him firmly among the early talking points of the tournament.
Zverev Survives Early Scare
Elsewhere in Melbourne, Alexander Zverev avoided an early exit but not without a struggle. The German dropped the opening set before regrouping to overpower his opponent and book his place in Round 2.
Zverev’s ability to reset and raise his level under pressure once again underlined his credentials as a title contender.
“The first set wasn’t ideal, but I found my rhythm and stayed patient,” Zverev said, according to ATP Tour match coverage.
Fery’s win is among the biggest ranking upsets of the opening round.
Zverev remains on course for a deep run, but the early scare highlights the unpredictability of the men’s draw.
The Australian Open continues its tradition of early-round shocks, keeping fans guessing from the very first day.
With momentum firmly on his side, Arthur Fery will now aim to extend his fairytale run, while Zverev will look to sharpen his game as the competition intensifies.
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