Arthur Fery’s US Open debut was slipping away fast as Lorenzo Musetti, the 13th seed, took the first set 6-3 and pushed toward a two-set lead. Fery, making his New York debut after an astonishing Wimbledon semi-final run in July, was left chasing the match from the start.
That scoreline mattered because it came during live day three coverage, with Musetti already looking the steadier player and Fery searching for a foothold. The 13th seed underlined that control with a one-handed backhand winner down the line on a break point, while Fery could only urge himself on with a sharp “Come on now.”
The mismatch was not only in the scoreboard. Fery’s backhand had not clicked, and every missed chance made the gap feel wider against a player who had settled quickly in New York. Elsewhere in the draw, Elena Rybakina beat wildcard Thea Frodin 6-3 6-2, Madison Keys and Mirra Andreeva also won, and Flavio Cobolli came from behind to beat Francisco Comesana in five sets.
Rybakina’s result carried its own edge, since she would replace Aryna Sabalenka as world number one if she reached the semi-finals. Fery’s story, by contrast, was still about survival: a first US Open showing, a difficult opening set, and the question of whether he could find enough rhythm to make Musetti work for the finish. The live update was part of 5 Sports Extra coverage, and Taylor Fritz also reached the second round.
