Volkswacht Bodensee - British qualifier upsets 20th seed Cobolli in Melbourne

NYSE - LSE

CMSC	-0.53%	21.93	$
BCE	-1.22%	22.92	$
BCC	1.56%	81.02	$
AZN	1.45%	188.41	$
CMSD	-0.73%	21.77	$
NGG	-0.49%	83.01	$
JRI	1.64%	12.79	$
GSK	1.16%	52.5	$
RIO	-1.46%	93.74	$
RBGPF	5.69%	65	$
RELX	1.34%	31.34	$
VOD	0.22%	13.89	$
RYCEF	2.12%	18.39	$
BP	-1.59%	37.13	$
BTI	0.45%	62.76	$

British qualifier upsets 20th seed Cobolli in Melbourne / Photo: © AFP

British qualifier upsets 20th seed Cobolli in Melbourne

SPORTS 18.01.2026

British qualifier Arthur Fery scored a major upset Sunday at the Australian Open by taking down 20th seed Flavio Cobolli on his maiden main draw debut in Melbourne.

Text size:

The 23-year-old, ranked 185, blasted past the Italian 7-6 (7/1), 6-4, 6-1 on John Cain Arena.

"It was an incredible experience here, first time playing main draw on such a great court with great fans as well," he said.

"Flavio is a great player. I love playing on the big stage."

Fery's only other Grand Slam second round appearance came at Wimbledon last year, where he also beat a 20th seed in the first round -- Australian Alexei Popyrin.

Defeat was a big setback for Cobolli, who appeared to be battling a physical issue throughout the match.

He made the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, before falling to Novak Djokovic, and won two ATP titles at Bucharest and Hamburg.

G.Schmid--VB

Volkswacht Bodensee - British qualifier upsets 20th seed Cobolli in Melbourne

British qualifier upsets 20th seed Cobolli in Melbourne

Featured

England captain Stokes to retire from international cricket

Ogier wins Acropolis Rally to close in on Evans

South Africa maintain World Cup semi-final hopes with nervy win over Bangladesh

South Korea president apologises after World Cup group-stage exit