​Arthur Fery is set to climb 78 ranking places and break into the world’s top 40 after the British wildcard delivered another brilliant performance by reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals with a stunning victory over Flavio Cobolli. The 23-year-old started the Championships ranked 114th in the world and will rise to 36th, earning him the new distinction of British No 1. Fery’s run makes him only the second wildcard ever to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals, underscoring a remarkable breakthrough for a player who was outside the world’s top 300 as recently as a year ago and had only cracked the top 200 in October. He had already broken into the world’s top 100, a major milestone, by defeating Zizou Bergs in the third round.
The French-born youngster could further amplify his standing if he can upset second seed Alexander Zverev in Friday’s semi-final, potentially pushing his ranking into the top 30 and perhaps granting him a seed for the season’s final Grand Slam. He began 2026 by securing a spot at the Australian Open through qualifying, and another deep run at Wimbledon would only boost his profile and earnings.
If Fery advances to the semi-finals, he stands to double his career prize money by earning £900,000 for a place in the last four, with a potential £1.8 million should he reach the final. The champion would take home £3.6 million. A historic moment also beckons for British tennis, as Fery would become just the fifth British man in the Open era to reach Wimbledon’s semi-finals, following in the footsteps of Andy Murray, Tim Henman, Roger Taylor, and Cameron Norrie. He will also become the new British No 1 on Monday, replacing Norrie, and will be only the second wildcard to appear in a Wimbledon semi-final, the first since the 2001 champion Goran Ivanišević.
“Its getting better and better with every match. I can’t believe it,” Fery said after advancing to the semi-finals. “It’s incredible to play on Centre Court for the second time… I just can’t believe it. I knew I could do it, even though it was my first time in the quarter-finals and he’s done it before. I just kept going, was very nervous beforehand but kept pushing to the finish line. Definitely was not calm on the inside! That last game, I felt emotions I hadn’t experienced before in my life, and I think it’s the same up there in the box. It’s unbelievable to share it with those guys, a great group of people, so happy.”
Fery’s triumph over Cobolli, 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-0, marked a commanding straight-sets win that left Centre Court loud with disbelief. His Wimbledon journey has been marked by a series of exceptional comebacks, though this match saw him take control from the start against the ninth seed, Cobolli, who had himself reached the French Open final last month.
As Fery continues his extraordinary Wimbledon adventure, all eyes will be on Friday’s semi-final as he aims to keep defying the odds. A win would not only cement his status as one of the sport’s most exciting up-and-coming talents but could also secure a seeded position for him at the next major, the US Open, and reposition him prominently on the world rankings ladder.