ARTHUR FERY’S rise towards tennis’s elite can take another big step forward when he faces Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the second round of the Australian Open.

The 23-year-old is on a four-match winning run in Melbourne having come through qualifying and then beaten 20th seed Flavio Cobolli, all without dropping a set.

While Cobolli was hampered by stomach problems, Fery looked completely at home on the cavernous John Cain Arena and he is eyeing another career milestone as he bids to reach the last 32 at a grand slam for the first time.

Fery has made three appearances at Wimbledon, all as wild cards, but he earned his place in qualifying here on ranking and a place in the world’s top 150 may well await whatever happens on Wednesday.

Fery, who is currently ranked 186th, said: “I was already happy to qualify here for my first time in the quallies of a slam on my own. And now obviously coming through quallies and winning a round, I’m proud of it.

“I was hoping that at some point I was going to be able to play other slams without needing wild cards so that’s a good step forward for my career for sure.”

Fery also defeated the 20th seed at Wimbledon — Alexei Popyrin — before losing in round two.

Argentinian Etcheverry is an experienced campaigner with a very solid game, but he has slipped outside of the top 50 and the young Londoner will hope to take advantage.

Also in second-round action is 26th seed Cameron Norrie, who staged his latest five-set comeback to beat Benjamin Bonzi on Sunday.

The British number two will take on American Emilio Nava next and carries belief from knowing it has taken Carlos Alcaraz once and Novak Djokovic twice to stop him at the last three grand slams.

“I was really happy with that,” said Norrie. “I think I can take confidence from those other recent deep runs in slams.”