​Arthur Fery is gearing up to challenge Alexander Zverev for a place in the Wimbledon final on Friday, fresh off a standout straight-sets victory over Flavio Cobolli that kept his dream alive at the All England Club. At 23, Fery has already etched his name into Wimbledon history as just the second wildcard to reach the men’s semi-finals in the open era, following Goran Ivanisevic’s 2001 triumph. He arrived in London ranked 114th in the world and with only a couple of Grand Slam wins to his credit, making his ascent even more remarkable.
The United Kingdom’s wildcard hero surged into the semi-finals by dismantling the ninth seed and French Open runner-up Cobolli with a dominant 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-0 scoreline. After sprinting toward the finish line, Fery collapsed onto his back on Centre Court and uttered, “It just gets better and better,” a testament to the extraordinary run that has captivated British tennis fans and humbly surprised many watchers.
On the horizon for Fery is a high-stakes matchup with second-seeded Alexander Zverev. The German star is into the Wimbledon semi-finals for the first time in his career, having finally captured his first Grand Slam title at last month’s French Open by overcoming Cobolli in five sets. Zverev reached the last four by defeating sixth seed Taylor Fritz in straight sets, ending a prolonged string of losses to the American and advancing with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 triumph.
In the other half of the draw, defending champion Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are set to meet in the semi-final, with Djokovic pursuing a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title. They will be joined by the winner of Friday’s earlier clash between Fery and Zverev, as Wimbledon fans anticipate the first-ever all-British semi-final in the modern open era to this extent and a potential historic final appearance for Fery.
Fery expressed an almost astonished gratitude for the opportunity as he reflects on his remarkable journey to the semi-finals. “It just gets better and better every match. I can’t believe it,” he said after the victory over Cobolli. “It’s incredible, playing on Centre Court for the second time… Just can’t believe it.” He admitted that nerves had sparked before the most crucial moments, but he credited his persistent effort for carrying him through to the finish line. “Definitely was not [calm] on the inside! That last game, I felt emotions that I hadn’t experienced before in my life,” he explained, acknowledging the emotional intensity of reaching this stage.
Looking ahead, Fery remains focused on the process rather than the result, intending to carry forward the momentum that has defined his Wimbledon campaign. “I’ve never been in this position before! I guess we’ll figure it out as we go. I’m just going to keep going,” he said. “I’ve been doing a great job for the past 10 days, going to do the same thing and see where that takes me.” The sense of possibility is palpable as Fery prepares to face Zverev in a semifinal that promises to be a defining moment in British tennis history.
For Zverev, the task is clear: advance to the final by defeating Fery and continue his quest for more Grand Slam glory after dethroning Cobolli on his own path to a first Wimbledon final appearance. The semifinal lineup, including Djokovic and Sinner on the other side, sets the stage for a weekend of high-stakes tennis, with the potential for a new champion at Wimbledon and a landmark breakthrough for one of Britain’s brightest up-and-coming talents. As the matches unfold, all eyes will be on Center Court to see how Fery’s audacious wild-card run translates into a potential historic final appearance.