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Arthur Fery’s dream run at the Queen’s Club came to an end on Friday afternoon after a narrow loss to Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in a tight three-setter in the quarter-finals.
It had been a history-making week for the British number five after reaching the last eight of the tournament for the first time in his career, defeating Adrian Mannarino, but he was unable to create another milestone on home soil.
Fery showcased impressive character to come from a set down to force the game into a third and final set on a sun-baked day in London, but facing a world number 27, Cerundolo’s experience showed towards the end of the match as he earned a 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4 in two hours and 39 minutes.
Next up for the 23-year-old, as he continues preparation for Wimbledon – where he was given a wildcard for the main draw – later this month, is another home tournament in Eastbourne.
With the Andy Murray Arena packed out as temperatures reached close to 30 degrees, both players made a nervous start, suffering numerous break point opportunities, before Fery eventually capitalised on one in the eight game to take a 5-4 lead.
However, the Argentine dominated the rest of the first set from that point onwards, winning the next three games and sailed through the tie-break to take a 1-0 set advantage.
Cerundolo picked up where he left off at the start of the second set, breaking Fery’s serve straight away, but suffered a painful hit at the net when the Brit sent a volley straight into his throat.
Fery quickly checked on his counterpart and exchanged smiles, with Cerundolo came close to hitting Fery on the next point, but the British player took control of the second set from that moment on.
Winning five games in a row from 3-1 down, Fery was composed to serve for the deciding set before a double fault from Cerundolo handed the Brit an early lead and on course for a career milestone in the ATP 500 competition.
But, as the third set went on, Cerundolo’s experience showed as he broke back before securing the victory on Fery’s serve, setting up a semi-final clash with American’s Brandon Nakashima.
In doubles at Queen’s, the all-Brit pair of David Stevenson and Marcus Willis were defeated by fellow compatriot Henry Patten and his partner Harri Hellovaara 4-6, 6-3, 10-4 to secure their spot in the semi-final of the main draw.
That means four Brits are in the final four of the men’s doubles draw, including the all-Brit partnership of Lloyd Glasspool and Julian Cash and they will take on Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo.
Patten and Neal Skupski will then go head-to-head in the other semi-final tie, with at least one Brit guaranteed to be in Sunday’s final.
