​Arthur Fery (left) reached the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time by defeating Finland’s Otto Virtanen [Getty Images]. Fery, at 5ft 9in, is probably tired of people commenting on his height. The British number three is shorter than many of his peers on the ATP Tour, and Wimbledon’s grass typically favors the big servers who pepper serves and aces. Fery doesn’t fit that mold, but the 23-year-old has shown he can hurt opponents in other ways and plans to employ them against Zizou Bergs, a 6ft 1in Belgian, when they meet on Saturday for a spot in the fourth round. World number 114, he remains Britain’s hopeful at the All England Club after becoming the sole home player to advance to the third round in singles.
“Arthur has to be an exceptional mover—he has a very good first serve, but he won’t get as many cheap points by blasting people off the court,” said Alex Ward, a Lawn Tennis Association national coach who has been guiding Fery. “He’s had to develop an all-round game: come to the net, defend, attack, and use variation.” In general, shorter players must excel on the technical side, and fortunately, he does.
Fery possesses plenty of power in his groundstrokes and, thanks to his quickness, can rush to the net to finish points with volleying. His on-court demeanor is notable, and Ward believes it is one of his greatest strengths. “He believes—without arrogance—that he can beat the players here,” Ward said. “When you talk to him about matches or opponents, you sense a genuine belief that he can win. That confidence is huge and not easy to teach.”
The doubles of “You’re taking our jobs”—cutting plans—Djokovic’s continuing dominance, Sabalenka’s win over Ostapenko to set up a potential Osaka match are among other headlines.
Fery, who grew up near the All England Club, brings a fiery spirit to the court, a trait he says he inherited from his parents. His mother, Olivia, is a French former Fed Cup player who once worked for the LTA as a business development manager, while his father, Loic, is an asset manager who owned the Ligue 1 club Lorient. His parents were among the spectators in the crowd when he beat Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen, with family and friends chanting his name in heartwarming scenes as the victory was secured.
Fery thrived on the atmosphere of Court 18 and has again been placed on the smaller show court for his match against world number 37 Bergs, rather than on Centre Court or Court One. Wimbledon organizers explained that Fery enjoys playing there and that the decision aligned with the broader scheduling plan. On being Britain’s last man standing, Fery said: “I wouldn’t say it’s pressure. If anything, it’s a good thing for me personally.” Of course, for the Brits overall, it’s less ideal, and many supporters would love to see more home players in the third round.