GB's Fery returns to Grand Slam stage - what lies ahead?

As the top stars congregated in New York for last year's US Open, Arthur Fery was looking in from the outside.

The Briton had just crept back inside the world's top 300 after winning an ATP Challenger event in Colombia and admits it was a "bit painful" watching players at the pinnacle of the sport.

Twelve months on, the 24-year-old is rubbing shoulders with the elite at Flushing Meadows, thanks to the stunning run to the Wimbledon semi-finals which has likely changed his life forever.

Fery's career is certainly unrecognisable compared to where it was.

He starts his US Open debut against Italian 13th seed Lorenzo Musetti on Tuesday as the 33rd-ranked player in the world, the British men's number one and a recent first-time finalist on the ATP Tour.

On watching the US Open from afar last year, Fery said: "It's a little bit painful seeing all the guys your age who you were playing with in juniors playing the US Open - and you're playing Challengers.

"You don't really want to be too stuck on other guys' results or watching matches. You want to focus on yourself.

"That's what I've been trying to do and now that I'm doing well, it's a little bit easier. You feel more in your place in these tournaments."

During his time as a professional, Fery has always carried himself with an air of assurance.

Although his extraordinary Wimbledon performance was unexpected, it feels he has the temperament to take the new experiences it has brought in his stride.

His debut at ATP Masters level ended in a win over Australia's James Duckworth at the Cincinnati Open, although the speed and guile of world number eight Alex de Minaur proved too much in the next round.

From there Fery travelled to North Carolina, where he finished runner-up at the ATP 250 event in Winston-Salem.

While he lost to higher-ranked Peruvian Ignacio Buse in Saturday's final, Fery says his four victories - albeit against opponents a Grand Slam semi-finalist would be expected to beat - have enhanced his sense of belonging.

"It was a very positive week for me. Obviously there is nowhere near as much attention as the Slams and big ATP events, but I've got to remind myself that its not a normal thing yet to make ATP 250 finals," Fery told BBC Sport.

"I wasn't really happy with my match in the final, but it was a long week and first time I'd played five matches in five days in a very long time.

"It's great preparation for the US Open."

Taking a month off tour after Wimbledon was another strategic move designed to help Fery flourish in the tail-end of the season.

The run scuppered an already-booked holiday to Greece, but a rearranged lads' trip to Spain - which included plenty of time on the golf course - provided the chance to recover from suddenly finding himself in the global spotlight.

"I was able to get some time off with friends and family, go on holiday and enjoy the success I'd had with them," he said.

"I'm happy with taking that amount of time off and even though I had to practise a little bit longer to get back into the flow of things, it was really worth it - mainly from a mental standpoint."

Fery narrowly missed out on a seeding at the US Open, which are given to the top 32 players, leaving him vulnerable to drawing one of the leading stars in New York.

Musetti, who is an excellent returner and slick mover, must be counted among the title favourites in a wide open men's draw.

A quarter-finalist in New York last year, the 25-year-old has gone a step further at both the French Open and Wimbledon in the recent seasons, and reached the Australian Open last eight in January.

A thigh injury ruled him out of the French Open and Wimbledon, but he has showed signs of rediscovering his best level in recent runs to the Washington and Cincinnati quarter-finals.

"Some weeks you get good draws, some weeks you get tougher draws - it is how it is," said Fery.

"I missed out by one spot on a seeded position and then I draw the 13th seed - it's a bit unfortunate but some things go your way and some things don't.

"I still feel I have my chances in that match-up if I prepare and play well."

Whatever happens against Musetti, it will be intriguing to see how Fery fares over the coming months given his new-found status.

There has already been plenty of discussion about whether the 5ft 9in Londoner's stature will be a limiting factor on an ATP Tour where taller players tend to thrive.

"I don't think Arthur's height has to be something which we sit here and worry about," says Michael Bourne, the Lawn Tennis Association's performance director.

"He has great ball speed – whether off the ground or from the serve, he's an amazing decision-maker and a very good athlete.

"He's earned the right for us not to put a ceiling on him. He's a talented young man and there is a lot to be excited about - let's see how far he can go."