British wildcard Arthur Fery made history on Wednesday by becoming the first male wildcard to reach the Wimbledon semifinals in 25 years. The 23-year-old defeated Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-0 on Centre Court, securing his place in the final four. Fery, who grew up within walking distance of the All England Club, is now just two wins away from potentially emulating Goran Ivanisevic, the only wildcard to win the Wimbledon singles title in 2001.
Fery's victory was witnessed by Britain's Queen Camilla, who congratulated him after the match. He will now face second seed Alexander Zverev in the semifinals, with the chance to play in the final on his 24th birthday. Zverev, the French Open champion, advanced to the semifinals after defeating Taylor Fritz 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Fritz, who had beaten Zverev in their last seven meetings, struggled with a knee injury during the match.
Fery's run has captivated the British public, with his performances drawing comparisons to past Wimbledon heroes. He is the fifth British man in the professional era to reach the semifinals, joining Andy Murray, Tim Henman, Roger Taylor, and Cameron Norrie. His journey from a relatively unknown player to a Wimbledon semifinalist has been described as a fairytale by British media.
In other news, Zverev's victory over Fritz was significant as it ended a long losing streak against the American. Zverev praised his performance, noting that his recent success at Roland Garros has boosted his confidence. Fritz, meanwhile, expressed disappointment over his knee issue, which he said affected his performance.
The semifinals promise to be a thrilling showcase of talent, with Fery's underdog story adding to the excitement. Whether he can continue his remarkable run against Zverev remains to be seen, but his journey so far has already cemented his place in Wimbledon history.