What must Arthur Fery do to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals?
British wildcard Arthur Fery, ranked 114th, has surprised many by reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals. On Wednesday, he faces Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli, with analysts highlighting his movement and net play as key to success.
British tennis player Arthur Fery, currently ranked 114th in the world, has caused a stir by reaching the Wimbledon quarter-finals. The 23-year-old wildcard will aim to advance to the semi-finals when he plays Italian ninth seed Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday.
Fery, only the sixth Briton in the Open era to reach this stage, has shown he can compete despite his shorter stature. His athleticism is a major asset, allowing him to keep points alive and move to the net effectively. He has won 78% of serve-and-volley points and 63% of net points overall – the second highest percentage in the men's draw.
To beat Cobolli, who is ranked 10th and recently reached the French Open final, Fery is advised to use a 'crush and rush' strategy: aggressively returning second serves and charging the net to deny the Italian time.
Fery already defeated Cobolli in straight sets at this year's Australian Open, providing a confidence boost. However, Cobolli will seek revenge.
Off the court, Fery remains relaxed, staying with his family and maintaining his usual routine. His coach, Jeroen Benard, notes that the team keeps a light atmosphere, joking about football and music to stay grounded.
