TENNIS fans are all aboard the Fery as they cheer on Britain’s Wimbledon wildcard wonder.
World No114 Arthur Fery, 23, gave us some hope on Monday as he smashed his way to the quarter-finals at London’s SW19.
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World No114 Arthur Fery, 23, gave us some hope on Monday as he smashed his way to the quarter-finals Credit: AP
French dad Loic once owned the country’s Ligue 1 football club Lorient — and is a hedge fund boss worth £275million Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
“Here comes the Fery!” chanted the crowd — followed by foghorn-like noises loud enough to make you spill your Pimm’s.
Two days earlier, 5ft 9in Arthur — a mere diddyman next to today’s big-serving giants — had defied three on-court nosebleeds to beat world No37 Belgian Zizou Bergs in a five-set marathon decided by a nerve-shredding tiebreak.
But after those four hours and 38 minutes in fierce heat on Court 18, he did it all again on Centre Court.
Arthur downed Bulgarian former world No3 Grigor Dimitrov in yet another five-set thriller that nudged four hours.
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It was enough to give the fans a nosebleed — if not Arthur this time.
Many watched on the big screen outside Centre Court, from the grassy slope known as Henman Hill or Murray Mound.
Talk on social media is now of calling it Arthur’s Seat.
The local lad, who grew up a stone’s throw from the All England Club, is enjoying a truly historic run on its hallowed lawns.
Arthur, nicknamed Cross Channel Fery because he was born in France, played the match of his life to become the first British wildcard in the last eight of any Grand Slam in the open era.
Wildcards are extra places in the draw awarded to players who have not made it in by ranking or from qualifying rounds — but feats such as Arthur’s are rare.
Croatian Goran Ivanisevic, latterly coach of Novak Djokovic, won Wimbledon as a wildcard in 2001. And should Fery emulate him on Jattvibeday, it would be on his 24th birthday.
Next up for him on Centre Court today is Italian world No10 Flavio Cobolli, 24, who had a stellar run to the French Open final last month. But sport runs in Arthur’s family.
His French dad Loic once owned the country’s Ligue 1 football club Lorient — and is a hedge fund boss worth £275million, making Arthur heir to a fortune whatever future tennis riches await.
Mum Olivia is a French former tennis star who played doubles at the 1991 French Open and later worked in business development at the UK’s Lawn Tennis Association.
Arthur is also no stranger to Wimbledon, having been educated nearby at private school King’s College.
He often attended the tennis to cheer his heroes, including all-time great Roger Federer, who was in the Royal Box to see him beat 35-year-old fans’ favourite Dimitrov.
Arthur is thought to be dating former schoolmate Honor Millard, a foodie influencer known online as The Honorable Chef Credit: instagram/the.honorablechef
The local lad, who grew up a stone’s throw from the All England Club, is enjoying a truly historic run on its hallowed lawns Credit: instagram/arthurfery
Arthur said recently: “I was never really pushed to play tennis, but my mum was a professional player — she was very good, that encouraged me.
“She helped me get going.
“We had a club just up the hill from Wimbledon called Westside — 50 metres from our house.
“They had hard courts and artificial clay.
“But there was a great coach there and I played with my mum on weekends.”
One of three kids, Arthur spent childhood summers in France at the family’s second home near La Rochelle, or with relatives in Nice.
After leaving school, he studied science, technology and society at Stanford University in California on a tennis scholarship, and was mentored by US doubles greats, brothers Bob and Mike Bryan.
He is thought to be dating former schoolmate Honor Millard, a foodie influencer known online as The Honorable Chef, and is a big fan of house music.
He said: “I like [Aussie dance music act] Rufus Du Sol — it gets me in the zone.
“I like British rappers as well.
“Dave, Central Cee.”
Fery’s coach at Stanford, US former tour player Paul Goldstein, was in his prodigy’s player box for the Dimitrov showdown.
Paul told us: “It shows what a rounded individual Arthur is.
“He’s got friends who aren’t tennis players who are there in the box from all over the world.
“I couldn’t say I knew he would perform like that under pressure when I started recruiting him, but getting to know him it doesn’t surprise me.
“I think of Arthur as an independent thinker — an innovator, creative — and an extraordinarily mature young man.”
Bob Bryan added: “All the players really respected him and knew his ability.
“I don’t think this is a big surprise to anyone that knows Arthur.”
Bob’s brother Mike added: “He can handle pressure.”
But despite attending a US university and being eligible to play for France, Fery is “British at heart” and “proud to represent the nation”.
British pundit Greg Rusedski, who made the Wimbledon last eight in 1997, said of Arthur’s next match: “He beat Cobolli earlier this year.
“The fairytale could continue.”
