Hometown underdog Arthur Fery advances to Wimbledon quarterfinals

Britain’s Arthur Fery pulled off the biggest win of his career on Monday, battling back from two sets to one down to defeat Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (10-7) and book his place in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time.

The 23-year-old, ranked world No. 114 and competing as a wildcard, became the first British wildcard to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal in the Open Era. He is also the lowest-ranked player to reach the Wimbledon men’s quarterfinals in 12 years and only the sixth British man in the Open Era to make the last eight at the All England Club, joining Andy Murray, Tim Henman, Roger Taylor, Greg Rusedski and Cameron Norrie.

Playing on Centre Court for the first time, only a short distance from where he grew up, Fery extended his remarkable tournament run in front of a packed home crowd and with Roger Federer watching from the Royal Box. It was also his first appearance beyond the second round of a Grand Slam.

Dimitrov, the former world No. 3 and a Wimbledon semifinalist in 2014, appeared in control after recovering from losing the opening set. The Bulgarian led by two sets to one and twice held a break advantage in the fourth set. At 4-3, 15-0, however, he lost 11 consecutive points, allowing Fery to level the contest.

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Fery had already shown his tenacity earlier in the tournament by recovering from 4-1 deficits in both the fourth and fifth sets against Zizou Bergs. Against Dimitrov, he again responded to adversity, breaking back both times he fell behind in the fourth set before forcing a deciding tiebreak.

The fifth set remained on serve before the match was settled in the 10-point tiebreak. After the score reached 6-6, Fery fired a 122 mph ace down the T before holding his nerve to seal the match 10-7 when Dimitrov’s backhand found the net. It was Fery’s first career victory over Dimitrov.

The win also was Fery’s second consecutive five-set comeback after entering Wimbledon with only two Grand Slam match wins and no previous victories in five-set matches. He is now guaranteed to climb into the ATP’s top 100, with projections placing him inside the top 70, while also securing at least £480,000 in prize money.

Born in Paris to French parents, with former professional tennis player Olivia Fery as his mother, Fery moved to Wimbledon as a child. He developed through the LTA system before earning a science, technology and society degree at Stanford University. Injuries, including bone bruising in his arm, delayed his progress, but consistent performances over the past two seasons have led to a breakthrough at his home Grand Slam.

Fery will next face Italian ninth seed and French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli for a place in the Wimbledon semifinals. The pair have met before, with Fery defeating Cobolli at the Australian Open.