ATP Tour

Buse downs Bonzi, Fery into first ATP Tour final after Duckworth retires in Winston-Salem

Ignacio Buse added another milestone to his career-best season Friday at the Winston-Salem Open, where he advanced to his second ATP Tour final of the year.

The 22-year-old overcame Benjamin Bonzi 6-2, 4-6, 6-1 in one hour and 51 minutes. With the triumph, Buse became the first Peruvian to reach an ATP Tour hard court final since Luis Horna in Long Island in 2004.

Despite dropping the second set after leading 4-2, the World No. 36 regained control in the third set, in which he did not drop any points on his first serve, motoring to victory in one hour and 51 minutes. The third seed finished having converted seven of the 15 break points he earned, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

"I started playing a good level in the second set, but then I got a little anxious," Buse said following his victory. "I think that is normal. The way I came back in the third set was very important and was the key."

On Saturday, Buse will face Briton Arthur Fery in the final in North Carolina and aim to clinch his second trophy of the season. In May, the 22-year-old lifted his maiden tour-level trophy at the ATP 500 event in Hamburg, where he defeated Tommy Paul in the championship match.

Later in the day, Fery advanced to his first ATP Tour final after James Duckworth retired due to an injury after dropping the first set.

Fery was firmly in control, leading 6-4, 2-1, when the Australian, who took a medical timeout following the opening set, could not continue after 59 minutes and walked to the net to shake hands with the Briton.

“I am really happy to be in the final,” Fery, who is the first British player to reach the final at the ATP 250 event, said. “Not the way I wanted it to end at all. I hope James will get well soon and rest up for next week. But I am very happy to be through.”

Fery will now aim to add to his already memorable season Saturday, when he will seek his first ATP Tour crown. Earlier this year, the 24-year-old Briton reached the last four at Wimbledon. With his semi-final triumph in Winston-Salem, Fery has moved up to a new career high of No. 33 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, overtaking Cameron Norrie as the British No. 1 in doing so. Eight weeks ago, Fery was outside the Top 100.