Arthur Fery’s Wimbledon run continues as Novak Djokovic eyes history
British wildcard Arthur Fery has emerged as a prominent figure at Wimbledon, embarking on an unexpected journey to the semi-finals. His run has captivated audiences, with many considering him the face of this year’s championships. Fery will face French Open champion Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, with a potential spot in Sunday’s final on his 24th birthday.
Fery, currently ranked 114th in the world, had only two previous Grand Slam match victories before this tournament. He secured his semi-final berth with five consecutive wins, including a decisive 6-0 third set victory over Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli. This achievement makes him only the second male wildcard to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals, a feat previously accomplished by Goran Ivanisevic in 2001.
Fery’s path to the semi-finals
Fery’s journey to the Wimbledon semi-finals marks the greatest results of his career. Born in Sevres, France, his family relocated to London before his first birthday, and he grew up near the All England Club. He began playing tennis at the Westside Tennis Club at the age of four, under the guidance of coach Alison Taylor, who noted his exceptional athleticism and footwork. Taylor, married to three-time Wimbledon semi-finalist Roger, gave Fery his first tennis lesson.
His parents, both with sporting backgrounds, have been supportive of his career. His mother, Olivia, played doubles at the 1991 French Open and competed in the Fed Cup, while his father, Loic, has experience in elite sports as a former owner of French Ligue 1 football club Lorient. Fery credits their support through both successful and challenging times.
As a junior, Fery’s technical ability was recognised early. Coaches Craig Veal and Benoit Foucher opted for him to develop his game by playing against adults in the UK rather than focusing on international junior rankings. This approach allowed him to rapidly improve his junior ranking when he began competing internationally, eventually reaching 12th in the world junior rankings and winning World Tennis Junior singles and doubles titles. He reached the semi-finals in the Australian Open and Wimbledon doubles as a junior.
At 18, Fery enrolled at Stanford University in California, pursuing a degree in science, technology, and society on a tennis scholarship. This period allowed him to mature and refine his game. His coach at Stanford, Brandon Coupe, observed Fery’s strong mentality under pressure, describing him as having “ice in his veins.”
Fery has also contended with bone bruising in his arm, an issue that caused him “dark moments.” Following his performance at this year’s Australian Open, he invested in a full-time physio and a biomechanics expert to modify his serve, aiming to reduce stress on his arm. His coach, Jeroen Benard, noted that the new serve technique is helping to alleviate pain.
Djokovic’s pursuit of history
While Fery captures headlines, Novak Djokovic continues his pursuit of tennis history. The 39-year-old Serbian player advanced to the semi-finals after a lengthy quarter-final match against Felix Auger-Aliassime. Djokovic is now set to face defending champion and world number one Jannik Sinner.
This will be Djokovic’s 55th Grand Slam semi-final, extending his record, and his 15th at Wimbledon. He is aiming for his 25th Grand Slam singles title. Djokovic expressed his determination to continue competing at the highest level, stating, “I still want to go at least one step further.”
Sinner, who had a challenging opening round against Miomir Kecmanovic, has since progressed without facing a seeded player. The upcoming semi-final against Djokovic will be a significant test for the Italian. The two players have a recent history, splitting their last two Grand Slam semi-final encounters, with Sinner winning at Wimbledon last year and Djokovic prevailing at this year’s Australian Open. Their next match is scheduled for Friday.
Zverev, who secured his first Grand Slam title at the French Open, has shown strong form on grass, dropping only two sets on his way to the semi-finals. He had not previously advanced beyond the fourth round in nine Wimbledon appearances. Zverev acknowledged the pressure of the competition but maintained perspective, stating, “Nobody will die. Their lives will not be drastically changed.”
Fery’s semi-final match against Zverev is scheduled for Friday at 13:30 BST.
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Source: rnz.co.nz
