Arthur I'm on the boat!

Fery cruised through qualifying, are we confirming it in the main draw now?

Cobolli comes into this match as the logical favorite, backed by a very strong 2025 season and far greater experience on the main tour. The Italian has confirmed his ability to produce a high volume of play from the baseline, with constant intensity and real solidity in long rallies. On paper, his overall level and his ability to maintain the pace over time give him a clear edge.

By contrast, Fery made a very strong impression during qualifying. His level of play, technical cleanliness and above all his ability to play freely stood out, with real quality on serve and good initiative-taking right from the first shots. In his recent qualifying matches, he showed that he knows how to handle pressure and adapt quickly to the conditions, which is often decisive in this kind of match.

I wasn’t very convinced by Cobolli at the United Cup, and we shouldn’t forget that he finished the season very late, spending a huge amount of energy to go and lift the Davis Cup. Seeing him start 2026 a bit slowly is therefore not exactly a surprise. He’s a player who reaches a very high level when he’s playing well, but who can sometimes be a bit inconsistent on his less good days.

If Fery manages to maintain the same level of commitment and rely on his serve, he can clearly stay in touch, especially at the start of the match or in a tight set. His positive momentum and the confidence he has built up in qualifying could allow him to play with no fear.

The most likely scenario is still a Cobolli win, but in a tougher match than the ranking gap suggests. Fery has the weapons to trouble the Italian, force tight games and possibly push the match into a very hard-fought battle.