​British wildcard Arthur Fery has etched his name into Wimbledon lore with a straight-sets victory that propelled him into the semi-finals, a historic achievement marked by an audience that included Queen Camilla and a host of notable spectators. The 23-year-old, who comes from a mere ten minutes away from the All England Club, outplayed Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli in a Centre Court clash on Wednesday afternoon, securing a spot in the last four.
In an unexpected turn, Camilla, the Princess of Wales, attended the tournament and watched Fery’s display from the royal box. She wore a turquoise chiffon dress by Anna Valentine and rose to her feet to join the rest of the crowd in a standing ovation as Fery sealed the win. The moment underscored the growing recognition of a British talent who has captured the imagination of fans and royalty alike.
Fery’s triumph makes him only the second wildcard in Wimbledon history to reach the Gentlemen’s Singles semi-finals. He is set to face the tournament’s second seed, Alexander Zverev, in Friday’s semi-final. After his victory, the delighted youngster spoke to courtside interviewer Lee McKenzie, saying: “I can’t believe it, it’s incredible playing on Centre Court for the second time, the second win.” When pressed about what lies ahead, Fery admitted that he is unsure how to prepare for such a rare milestone, adding: “I don’t know as I’ve never been in this position before. I’m just going to keep going. I’ve been playing well for the last 10 days, so I’m going to keep doing that and see where it takes me.”
The win over Cobolli followed a late surge in the earlier rounds, with Fery fighting through decisive tiebreaks against Zizou Bergs and Grigor Dimitrov to reach the quarter-finals. The victory over Cobolli was delivered in convincing fashion, 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-0, highlighting Fery’s composure and rising level as the match progressed. After delivering the decisive ace, Fery dropped to the court before rising to shake Cobolli’s hand as the crowd roared their approval.
Fery’s supporters included his parents, who were visibly moved, along with US actress Elle Fanning and adventurer Bear Grylls, who were also in attendance to witness the historic moment. The Princess of Wales extended her congratulations in a post on X (formerly Twitter), praising Fery for becoming the first British wildcard to reach the Gentlemen’s Singles semi-finals in the Open Era and calling his achievement inspirational while wishing him well for the next round. ]]>
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer joined in the chorus of praise, noting on social media: “What a moment for Arthur Fery. From wild card to Wimbledon semi-finalist, a brilliant performance on the biggest stage. Best of luck in your next match!” The public reaction was equally enthusiastic in the stands and around the grounds, where spectators who had secured ballot seats shared in the excitement.
Bettina and Clive Sanford, a pair from north London who attended on the day, described it as a “fantastic day,” commending Fery’s calm presence and the quality of his play. Liz Hardisty, watching from Henman Hill, reflected on the experience: “It was really exciting and I’m glad I came… It was worth coming just to see him, such an underdog, a wild card to reach the semi-finals – it’s virtually unheard of.” As Fery prepares for a clash that could define a career milestone, Wimbledon fans and national figures alike continue to celebrate a story of perseverance, talent, and unexpected triumph on one of sport’s most iconic stages.