Additional Coverage:
- Arthur Fery becomes 1st British wild card to reach Wimbledon quarterfinals in professional era (nbcsports.com)
LONDON – Arthur Fery, who grew up just five minutes from Wimbledon’s All England Club and once watched Roger Federer play on Centre Court as a child, found himself in a remarkable new role on Monday. This time, Federer was in the stands watching Fery compete on the sport’s most iconic stage.
Fery made history by becoming the first British wild card in the professional era (since 1968) to reach the quarterfinals of a Grand Slam. His thrilling victory came against fellow wild card and former top-five player Grigor Dimitrov, with a scoreline of 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7).
After the match, Fery dropped his racket to the grass and raised his hands in disbelief. “We’ve got probably the greatest of all time watching in the front row over there,” he said, nodding toward Federer. “And now playing here in front of all you guys, having the support and winning, it’s unbelievable.”
Looking ahead, Fery will face Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals. Cobolli advanced by defeating Alex de Minaur. The two players previously met at this year’s Australian Open, where Fery won in straight sets after coming through qualifying.
Cobolli acknowledged the earlier defeat, saying, “In Australia I was sick. Of course, Arthur is an amazing player, but that match I couldn’t play.”
Fery’s breakthrough run at Wimbledon has captivated fans, marking a memorable moment for British tennis and showcasing the promise of a new generation on Centre Court.