Arthur Fery, the last remaining British singles player at Wimbledon, has stated he will ignore any social media hype surrounding his breakthrough run as he prepares to face former world No. 3 Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round on Monday. The wildcard entry, who had never previously advanced past the second round of a Grand Slam, has now reached the second week for the first time in his career after three victories last week.
Fery's Focus on the Match
“I won’t look at social media,” Fery said. “Or very little. Yeah, my WhatsApp and all that. Obviously, there’s a lot of messages and a lot of support and I’m super grateful for it, but I obviously can’t let myself fall into that trap. And I’m sure I’ll have time after the tournament’s done, whenever that is, to enjoy.”
Fery's run has generated significant attention, but he remains grounded. He noted that his progress has been steady rather than sudden, having started the year by qualifying for the Australian Open and defeating Flavio Cobolli, later a French Open finalist, in the first round. He was also the last British man standing at the Queen’s Club tournament, where he narrowly lost in three sets to eventual champion Francisco Cerúndolo.
Prepared for the Moment
“It’s something that’s been in the works for a long time,” Fery said. “Again, I haven’t gone from zero to this suddenly. So it’s something that you prepare yourself for. And I feel like you only really break through when you’re ready to. Otherwise you don’t get through matches like I did today. So yeah, I feel like I’m ready.”
Fery acknowledged the elevated attention but insisted he will stay grounded. “I mean there’s obviously going to be differences. It’s not going to be like a completely different life that I’m leading Sunday in two weeks, unless I win the tournament. But yeah, I’m ready for it. I’m just going to stay grounded and not going to change really.”
Dimitrov's Challenge
Although Fery has avoided seeded players so far, Dimitrov presents a formidable challenge. The Bulgarian former world No. 3 and previous Wimbledon semi-finalist has a ranking that does not reflect his ability. Last year, he led top seed Jannik Sinner by two sets in the fourth round before a pectoral injury forced him to withdraw, sidelining him for months and leaving mental scars. This year, as a wildcard, he has staged an emotional comeback.
“It’s not going to be an easy match. I have seen him play. He’s a great competitor. He’s playing at home. I mean, second week, Wimbledon, big court. I can totally get it,” Dimitrov said, smiling, about the support Fery will receive. “No, I’m going to approach this match as every other match. There’s nothing has changed on my side. I’m just really going to focus on my side of the net and what I want to be doing out there and achieving on the court.”
The match represents a big opportunity for both players: Dimitrov to reach the quarter-finals as he seemed destined to do last year, and Fery to continue his historic run as the last British hope in singles.
