British qualifier Arthur Fery claimed another notable Grand Slam scalp as he beat 20th-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli to cause the first shock on day one of the Australian Open.
World number 185 Fery equaled the biggest victory of his career with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-1 victory at a sunny Melbourne Park.
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The 23-year-old, who was making his main draw debut at a Grand Slam abroad, beat 20th seed Alexei Popyrin at Wimbledon last year.
Cobolli struggled physically early on due to a stomach problem and left the court at the end of the first set to go to the toilet.
“I seem to like drawing the 20th seed at Grand Slam tournaments,” Fery later joked.
“I love playing on big fields and big stages.”
Cobolli took electrolyte tablets provided by the doctor after leaving the court, then asked to see medical staff again after losing 3-0 in the third set.
Nonetheless, Fery deserves huge credit for the way he approached the situation against Wimbledon quarter-finalist Cobolli.
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The Londoner, who grew up near the All England Club in Wimbledon, played intelligently and aggressively, moving Cobolli around the court.
The 5-foot-9 Fery lacks the punch of some opponents on serve, but there is shown to be plenty of venom in his groundstrokes as he fired straight shots past his opponent.
A forlorn-looking Cobolli continued to struggle physically, with a series of double faults helping Fery take a 5-1 lead in the third set.
Fery then had no problem serving for the second Grand Slam victory – and only third tour-level victory – of his career.
He will face Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry – the world number 61 who beat Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic in five sets – in the second round.
