Winston Salem
Buse, Fery continue breakthrough years, reach Winston-Salem SFs
The 22-year-old Peruvian wins ‘mental battle’ to reach last four
August 28, 2026
Winston-Salem Open
Ignacio Buse is the highest seed remaining at the Winston-Salem Open.
By ATP Staff
Ignacio Buse’s career-best season keeps getting better.
The 22-year-old advanced to his third tour-level semi-final of the year on Thursday at the Winston-Salem Open, where Buse, seeded third, escaped Argentine lefty Juan Manuel Cerundolo 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-2 after two hours and 48 minutes.
The highest seed remaining in North Carolina, Buse’s career highlight came in May when he claimed his first tour-level trophy at the ATP 500 in Hamburg.
“I think today was a mental battle,” Buse said with a smile. “It was very humid, very different conditions from the days before. I think mentally, we were both very tough. I think I was a little tougher in the third set.”
One year ago at this time, Buse was No. 135 in the PIF ATP Rankings, one spot shy of being 100 places below his current World No. 36 positions. Buse will be seeded at the US Open.
Competing in his 50th tour-level match on Thursday, the Peruvian created 14 break chances, converting six, according to Infosys ATP Stats. Next up for Buse is Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi.
Bonzi ousted 13th seed Botic van de Zandschulp 7-6(5), 6-4 to reach his sixth ATP Tour semi-final and first since claiming his lone tour-level title in 2024 at the Metz ATP 250 event.
The 30-year-old fell to Van de Zandschulp at this very tournament in 2022, also in the quarter-final stage. Bonzi now leads the Dutchman 2-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series.
Another player enjoying a breakthrough year is Arthur Fery. The Briton made a fairytale Wimbledon semi-final run and is now into the last four in Winston-Salem. The fourth seed rallied past Aleksandar Kovacevic 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.
At No. 35 in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Fery is set for a new career high Monday. Eight weeks ago, Fery was outside the Top 100. On Friday, he will take on James Duckworth for a spot in his first ATP Tour final: Duckworth rounded out Thursday’s action in Winston-Salem by defeating 15th seed Fabian Marozsan 6-7(4), 6-2, 6-4.
