Arthur Fery has made Wimbledon history as the first British wildcard to reach the quarter-finals. The 23-year-old defeated Bulgarian star Grigor Dimitrov in a gripping five-set encounter on Monday evening, watched by his childhood hero Roger Federer.
Background and Early Life
Born in the Parisian suburb of Sèvres, Fery moved to SW19 at just two years old, growing up only a stone's throw from the All England Club. His mother Olivia is a former tennis professional and holds membership at the club, while his younger brother is working at this year's tournament as a runner.
Fery attended King's College School in Wimbledon, where annual fees reach up to £35,000. He later studied at Stanford University in the United States on a tennis scholarship, pursuing a Science, Technology and Society degree. He became number one on America's college circuit, the ITA.
Historic Wimbledon Run
Fery is the first British wildcard entry ever to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon. He will face world number ten Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday for a semi-final spot. Fery previously defeated Cobolli in a three-set clash in Australia.
Reflecting on his victory against Dimitrov, Fery said: "It was awesome. I had so many friends, so much family there, as well as all my team and people that I really trust in and enjoy spending time with."
Family Support
His father Loïc, 53, CEO of Chenavari Investment Managers overseeing assets worth nearly £4.5 billion, has been cheering him on. He said: "We're all very, very proud of him. He's a Wimbledon boy. England means a lot and Great Britain means a lot because he grew up here."
Despite his privileged background, Fery has worked hard to overcome injuries, including bone bruising in his arm that caused "doubts and dark moments". His father insists all credit belongs to the young player: "He's doing it step-by-step. We never pushed him. It's his thing."
Fan Chants and Music
Fans have devised a ferry-inspired foghorn chant for the British star, opening with the line: 'Here Comes The Fery!' The Princess of Wales watched his first-round match on Court 18. Fery described the song as "original", but prefers house music and British rappers like Dave and Central Cee to get in the zone.
Expert Opinions
Former British tennis ace Greg Rusedski commented: "His swagger, the way he walks around the court, he shows that he believes. Keep the body language. Keep the swagger. Keep doing what you're doing. Don't change a thing."
Rusedski added: "The story's great. The guy was barely serving between 40 and 80 balls a year ago because of his elbow problem. And now he's all of a sudden in the quarters of Wimbledon."
