British wildcard Arthur Fery extends his remarkable Wimbledon journey into the second week, stunning his opponent with a thrilling victory. Fery, aged 23, has become a beacon of hope for British tennis fans after Jack Draper’s withdrawal, advancing to the Last 16 in an unexpected fashion.
In a tense match on Court 18, Fery fought back from a set down twice to secure a remarkable 6-2 5-7 6-2 6-7 (3-7) 6-7 (4-10) triumph over Zizou Bergs. The match was not without controversy, as Bergs expressed frustration to the umpire over Fery’s perceived lack of sportsmanship in not acknowledging net cords and premature celebrations.
Despite Bergs’ complaints, Fery maintained his composure and displayed sportsmanship, sealing the victory with a final set tie-break. The two players embraced after the match, with Fery celebrating his historic achievement as the first British wildcard to reach the second week of Wimbledon since 1993. Fery is set to face either Grigor Dimitrov or Matteo Berrettini in the upcoming round.
Reflecting on his win, Fery expressed his disbelief and gratitude, stating, “No words for it, honestly. I don’t know what is going on right now. It will take time to digest it. So many first times after this match. I’m just so glad.” When asked about his comeback from a deficit, Fery credited his competitiveness and determination, saying, “I was down for pretty much the whole match, managed to scramble back from two breaks and 4-1 in the fifth, and just tried to put up as much of a fight as I could.”