Unheralded Briton Arthur Fery has made history at Wimbledon 2026 by becoming only the second wild card player ever to reach the men’s semifinals. Fery secured a straight sets victory over French Open 2026 runner-up Flavio Cobolli, winning 6-4, 7-6(4), 6-0 in two hours and 14 minutes. This remarkable achievement emulates Croatian legend Goran Ivanisevic’s feat from 25 years ago.
The 23-year-old Briton, who had just six tour-level wins before Wimbledon, delivered a high-class performance under the London sun. Fery overwhelmed Top-10 star Cobolli, becoming the lowest-ranked men’s singles semifinalist at SW19 since Ivanisevic’s title win in 2001. Fery expressed his disbelief and joy, stating that his tournament is improving with each match.
Fery also joined the ranks of British tennis history, becoming the fifth British man to reach the Wimbledon semifinals in the Open Era. In the upcoming semifinals, Fery will face second seed and Roland Garros champion Alexander Zverev. Zverev, after his recent Grand Slam victory, reached the Wimbledon semifinals for the first time in his career, defeating Taylor Fritz in straight sets.
As Fery made his mark in the record books, Zverev continued his successful season by reaching new milestones. Despite Fritz’s injury struggles, Zverev showcased his prowess on the court, resembling the Grand Slam champion he is. The clash between Fery and Zverev promises an exciting matchup at The All England Club.
