The Australian Open has not been a happy hunting ground for British tennis players, with it being over 50 years since they had a champion on the men’s or women’s side.
And, with Jack Draper having withdrawn from this year’s event, the chances of that changing in 2026 seem slim.
That being said, it’s still positive to see any Brits starring in a Grand Slam, as this marks the pinnacle of tennis.
Plenty of players go their entire careers without even reaching such a stage.
However, one 23-year-old has just secured his first-ever spot at a Grand Slam main draw that was not earned through a wildcard.
Arthur Fery qualifies for the Australian Open
Arthur Fery has gained his spot in the Australian Open the hard way, battling his way through qualifying.
Having played at Wimbledon from 2023 to 2025, all of his entries into his home major tournament have been wildcards. This marks the first time he has ever successfully qualified, battling past some top opponents to get there.
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He kicked off his conquest with a routine win over Edward Winter, before Fery beat Bernard Tomic in the second round of qualifying.
Then came Dino Prižmić, who shocked the world when he took a set off Novak Djokovic at the 2024 Australian Open.
However, even he was powerless against Fery’s fine form, who will now look forward to featuring in his maiden overseas Grand Slam.
What Novak Djokovic said about Arthur Fery’s opponent Dino Prižmić
What makes Fery’s win over Prižmić even more impressive is just how complimentary Djokovic was about the Croatian.
In fact, when asked about him two years ago, he arguably paid him the ultimate compliment, as Djokovic compared himself to Prizmic.
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The 24-time Grand Slam champion claimed: “I love the way he uses every inch of the court. He is comfortable coming in, he defends incredibly well.
“Just an amazing performance for someone who is 18 years old and never had an experience of playing on a big stage.”
He then added: “There were some gruelling rallies, very physical games. Almost four hours for four sets. It felt at some point I was playing myself in a mirror already.”
