Arthur Fery’s extraordinary Wimbledon journey reached another unforgettable milestone as the British wildcard defeated ninth seed Flavio Cobolli in straight sets to become only the fifth British man in the Open Era to reach the men’s singles semi-finals.
The 23-year-old, who had won just two Grand Slam main-draw matches before arriving at the All England Club, continued his dream run with a composed victory that secured the biggest win of his career. Fery will now face German second seed Alexander Zverev for a place in Sunday’s final.
The victory sparked jubilant celebrations on Centre Court as the home favourite soaked up the applause from a packed crowd. Speaking after the match, Fery admitted the emotions of the occasion were unlike anything he had previously experienced.
“I felt emotions that I’ve never experienced before in my life in that last game,” Fery said. “I have the crowd behind me here, which is a huge help.”
Fery’s Remarkable Rise Continues
Fery has become just the fourth men’s wildcard in the Open Era to reach a Grand Slam semi-final, joining Jimmy Connors, Henri Leconte and Goran Ivanisevic, with the latter the only player to go on and lift the title.
The stunning run will also propel Fery to a career-high world ranking of No. 36, guaranteeing direct entry into the sport’s biggest tournaments. His Wimbledon campaign has already earned him at least £900,000 in prize money, with the prospect of an even bigger payday should he overcome Zverev.
Despite his rapid rise, those close to Fery describe him as grounded and focused. Coach Jeroen Benard has maintained a relaxed atmosphere throughout the tournament, with football highlights and casual conversations forming part of the daily routine away from the courts.
Injury Setbacks Give Way To Wimbledon Dream
Born in France before moving to Wimbledon as a child, Fery developed through the LTA pathway before combining higher education at Stanford University with his tennis career.
His progress was interrupted by recurring arm injuries that forced lengthy spells away from competition and tested his confidence. After overcoming those setbacks, the Briton has now enjoyed the breakthrough tournament of his career on home soil.
Fery remained unfazed by the occasion despite playing in front of Queen Camilla and thousands of home supporters, showing the composure that has become a hallmark of his remarkable campaign.
His dream now continues with a Wimbledon semi-final against Zverev, as the British wildcard moves within one victory of an improbable place in the championship match.
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