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Arthur Fery on sealing his first ATP Challenger title & joining the Davis Cup team
The Lexus Great Britain Davis Cup team have touched down in Poland ahead of their World Group I tie against Poland on Friday 12 September, as they look to book a spot in the 2026 Qualifiers.
Among Captain Leon Smith’s team is debutant Arthur Fery, who has earned his first Davis Cup call-up following a spirited run of form that saw him clinch his first Grand Slam main draw win and a maiden ATP Challenger title.
It’s been a challenging season for Fery, who battled injuries throughout the early stages of the year. He only competed in five tournaments during the first six months of the year, but despite the lack of match play, he managed to pull off some impressive victories on the grass that effectively kick-started his 2025 campaign.
After qualifying for the main draw at the Lexus Nottingham Open, Fery won a tough opening match against former world No.9 Fabio Fognini before turning his attention to the pinnacle of the grass court season - The Championships, Wimbledon.
The 23-year-old was awarded a wild card into the main draw but was dealt a tough hand in the form of 20th seed Alexei Popyrin. After dropping the third set, Fery held his nerve to close out a 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win - his first Grand Slam main draw victory and the biggest win of his career.
“The start of this year was really difficult”, Fery admitted. I probably hit - in terms of my tennis career - rock bottom in May. I was really fortunate to get a wild card at Wimbledon and win a match - that really got my season going.
“It was incredible having my family and friends there. I’d played in the main draw two years before that but this one I felt like I hadn't had much preparation. I’d only played Nottingham a couple of weeks before but I felt like I was in a good place with my tennis.
Things kind of clicked and I did really well to win that match. It was huge to get my first Grand Slam win - hopefully that’s the first of many.
Fery built on that momentum throughout the following weeks. He came through qualifying to reach the quarter-final at the Bloomfield Hills Challenger before racing to the final in Barranquilla, Colombia where he captured his first ATP Challenger.
The 23-year-old didn’t drop a set en route to the final, and despite being awarded the title after his opponent Bernard Tomic withdrew, Fery still drew plenty of positives and confidence from the week.
“I got my first Challenger title in Colombia. I didn’t have to play the final which is always a bit weird winning a tournament like that but it was a long time coming. It was good to get it done, and a good career milestone that definitely helps the ranking and confidence.
“I know I can play well. That tournament itself, I didn’t play the best players that I’ve played this year but it’s good to mark it down. I’ve won a few Futures (tournaments) before but to step up and do it at the Challengers is good for my confidence and now I have the belief that I can win many more tournaments.”
These performances all contributed to Fery receiving his first Davis Cup call-up for the Lexus GB team ahead of their tie against Poland.
He joins British No.2 Cam Norrie, Jacob Fearnley and top doubles pair Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool in the five-man team bidding for a place in the 2026 Davis Cup Qualifiers.
Fery heads into the tie fresh from another ATP Challenger quarter-final in France and is ready to help his team out in whatever way he can this weekend.
“It feels great - it’s an honour to be here with the team and I’m looking forward to the weekend and helping in whatever way possible.
“Leon called me when I was in France last week playing a Challenger - gave me the good news before my first round match so I was even more excited to get out there and put in a good performance.
“I watched it (Davis Cup) loads when I was young, especially the old format when it was slightly different. It's a competition with lots of history. I went to the Davis Cup final in 2014 and watched Switzerland vs France. (I have) lots of memories watching and now hopefully playing.
“It would be a proud moment (to make his debut) - it’d be special. If I knew that moment was going to come 10 years ago then I wouldn’t believe it.
“Whether it be this weekend or in the future I don’t know but I’m going to give everything I have this week whether it be on court or just supporting.”
Fery and the rest of the Lexus GB team will take on Poland between 12-13 September. You can watch all of the action from the tie live and exclusively on Tennis Channel.