​Great Britain’s Arthur Fery, the rising tennis underdog, continued his Cinderella run at Wimbledon on Wednesday by ousting ninth-ranked Flavio Cobolli in a gripping quarterfinal showdown at the storied tournament. As he advances deeper into the Championships, the question on many lips is whether Fery could actually capture the title, especially given that he began the tournament outside the top 100 in the world rankings.
History would seem to lean in a remarkably positive direction for Fery. ESPN notes that Fery is the first male player since Goran Ivanišević in 2001 to reach the Wimbledon semifinals without being ranked inside the top 100 at the outset of the event. Ivanišević’s own journey that year culminated in an unforgettable triumph on the Wimbledon grass, turning a щодо-odds tale into a legendary victory. If Fery could replicate even a fraction of Ivanišević’s magic, his name could be etched into Wimbledon lore in a similarly dramatic fashion.
Of course, the path from quarterfinalist to champion is steep, and the story would be among the sport’s most compelling if Fery could pull off the improbable and win the tournament as a non-top-100 entrant. The mere idea has tennis fans across the UK buzzing with anticipation as he prepares to take the court in the semifinals. His rising stock has already sparked a wave of optimism among supporters who have watched him defy the odds with every round, and a deep run would add a significant chapter to British tennis history.
If Fery can continue his remarkable surge, a title would not only validate his late-blooming rise but also cement his status as one of the sport’s most memorable underdog stories. A Wimbledon triumph would place him among the select company of legends who have transformed unlikely starts into historic breakthroughs on Centre Court.
As for the broader implications, Fery’s current trajectory could reinvigorate interest in British talent and inspire young players who see a pathway from outside the top 100 to a spotlight on the biggest stage in tennis. His story—hometown proximity to Wimbledon growing up, a late-season surge, and a semifinal berth—has all the ingredients of a narrative that resonates far beyond the scoreline.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Can Arthur Fery win Wimbledon as an underdog? The early signs are promising, and one good omen suggests that better things could lie ahead for Fery as he sets his sights on the semifinal showdown and, potentially, the ultimate prize.