​LONDON (AP) — Arthur Fery has some adjustments to make after his breakout moment at Wimbledon, starting with his vacation plans. Fery evidently didn’t anticipate a semifinal run — who did? — and the British wild card figured he would be vacationing in Greece this past week rather than captivating Center Court with a standing ovation-worthy performance. “I was meant to be coming back from holiday today,” the beaming Fery said after falling to Alexander Zverev 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 on Friday.
The young Brit became the focal point of his hometown as he advanced into the second week, even meeting Britain’s Queen Camilla before stepping onto Center Court and defeating Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals. That victory made him the first wild card in 25 years to reach the Wimbledon men’s singles semifinals at the All England Club. Yet the “Ferytale” hit a reality check against the big-serve, newly minted French Open champion Zverev.
“I didn’t play a good tiebreak,” Fery admitted after watching a 139 mph (224 kph) serve from Zverev on the first point, followed by a double fault and an unforced error that sealed the tiebreak. “He was always putting constant pressure. I didn’t get much rhythm, just not many rallies. Balls were coming back a little faster than what I’ve been used to. Not as sharp with my footwork and mentally. Against a player like that, it adds up pretty quick.”
Zverev, who will meet defending champion Jannik Sinner in Sunday’s final, told the Center Court crowd that Fery is just getting started. “His game is very, very good. I think he has a lot of things in his game that he can still improve, which is a positive thing because he just made the semifinals of Wimbledon for the first time,” Zverev said. “If you know you’re just starting and you’re making the semifinals of Slams, that’s positive.”
Entering the grass-court major at No. 114, Fery’s run will push him into the top 50 for the first time, elevating him to No. 36 when the new rankings come out on Monday. “It’s going to change things, for sure. I’m going to be able to play tour events for at least a full year, hopefully more,” said Fery, who turns 24 on Sunday. “It’s going to be a challenge to deal with all of that, but I’m conscious of it already, and that’s the first step.”
Fery hopes to recharge before the hard-court season and his first US Open main draw. Regarding a possible rearranged Greece trip, he noted, “We’ll see if that’s still in the cards.” When asked whether his friends had already gone ahead to Greece, he added with a smile, “One of my friends went ahead hoping I would lose, so I could join him. No, he came back two days later and was supporting me.”
All of which leaves Fery with something to celebrate beyond the immediate heartbreak of the semifinal setback: his stunning ascent is a milestone in a career still very much in its early stages. He may be maturing into a global name before our eyes, and the early signs suggest there is plenty more to come as he navigates the sudden shifts in ranking, attention, and expectations that come with a Wimbledon breakthrough.