Buse Becomes Youngest Winston-Salem Champion With Win Over Fery

Commanding Display in North Carolina

Ignacio Buse claimed the 2026 Winston-Salem Open on Saturday, defeating Frenchman Arthur Fery 6-3, 6-2 in exactly 71 minutes. The 22-year-old Peruvian, seeded third in the draw, was clinical from the first game, surrendering just five games across two sets and never facing a serious challenge on his serve. The victory is Buse's second ATP title of the year and the first of his career on hard courts.

The week in Winston-Salem was a showcase for a player who has been quietly building one of the most impressive seasons in South American tennis history. At world No. 36 and with two titles before the final Grand Slam of the year, Buse has redefined what is expected of players from Peru on the ATP Tour.

History Made: Youngest Champion in Tournament History

The win carries significant weight beyond the scoreline. Buse becomes the youngest player ever to win the Winston-Salem Open title, edging past Hubert Hurkacz, who was marginally older when he lifted the trophy in 2019. He also joins Jaime Yzaga as only the second Peruvian to win a hard-court singles title on the ATP Tour in the open era — an achievement that generated considerable celebration back home.

His first title of 2026 had come on clay in Hamburg, where he overcame Tommy Paul in the final. Winston-Salem now confirms that his game — built around aggressive groundstrokes, precise serve placement and a willingness to press the net — translates to hard courts with equal effectiveness. That versatility is the mark of a player who belongs in the upper tier of the rankings for the long term.

Fery's Breakthrough Week Ends at the Final Hurdle

For Arthur Fery, the defeat arrives at the end of a remarkable run. The 24-year-old, born in 2002, had been outside the top 100 just eight weeks ago before a fairytale semi-final run at Wimbledon catapulted him to a career-high ranking of world No. 36. Winston-Salem represented his first ATP Tour final, and for long stretches of the week he showed the quality that justified his ascent. But Buse was superior in every key department on Saturday, and Fery had no response to the Peruvian's relentless pressure from the baseline.

Fery leaves North Carolina with a significant ranking improvement and the experience of a first final at this level. At 24, with his best tennis apparently still ahead of him, the story of this season is far from over.

Arriving at the US Open as a Champion

With the US Open main draw opening in New York on Sunday, the timing of Buse's title could not be more advantageous. He enters Flushing Meadows as a champion in form, ranked inside the world's top 40 and having demonstrated his complete game on the exact surface used at the final Grand Slam of the year.

The Winston-Salem Open has historically served as a confidence-builder for players heading into the US Open, and Buse now arrives in New York with two titles in 2026 and no visible weakness in his game. For Peru, this is already a season to celebrate. For Buse himself, the biggest tournament still lies ahead.