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3 Jul 2026 | 08.00
Arthur Fery has become the local sensation at Wimbledon 2026. Thanks to his victory over Otto Virtanen, the 23-year-old player qualified for the third round of a Grand Slam for the first time. He has achieved this with an added weight: being the sole surviving British representative in both the men's and women's singles draws, reflecting the challenging moment that British tennis is going through.
Fery's story also embodies perseverance. He is participating in Wimbledon with a wildcard, the fourth of his career at the London tournament. After being eliminated twice in the second round of a Grand Slam, he has finally taken the step he had been seeking for a long time. A former collegiate player at Stanford, raised just ten minutes away from the All England Club, with a mother who was also a professional tennis player, his journey to the elite has been very different from that of other talents in his generation. Now, with a solid game and great competitive maturity, the current #114 in the world is starting to reap the rewards.
Arthur Fery, the Only British Player Standing at Wimbledon
"This is something I wanted to achieve to further my career. I had reached the second round of a Grand Slam twice before, so surpassing that barrier means a lot. Putting together two strong performances in such a big tournament is not easy because many things happen around you, and it is easy to get distracted after winning a match. Being the only British player left is not something I see as pressure; in fact, I view it as a positive thing. Obviously, for British tennis, we would have liked to have many more players in the third round. I play for myself, I want to win for myself, but it would be fantastic if there were more Brits."
A Different Style of Play, More Intelligence-Based
"My return is one of my strengths, as well as my mobility and ability to move around the court. Today, Otto was consistently serving over 215 km/h, and I had to try to respond with high quality. That profile fits perfectly with my style of play, as I consider myself a player of great consistency from the baseline, very quick on my feet, with an excellent reading of exchanges, and a notable ability to vary heights and directions. Let's say I don't need to dominate with my serve to compete."
His Path to Professionalism: Stanford Before the Tour
"When I finished the junior stage, I wasn't ready to play on the professional tour full-time, so I chose Stanford University for its academic level and because it provided an alternative plan if tennis didn't work out. It also had one of the best sports programs. Those three years helped me mature, gave me time to grow as a person without too much pressure. When I left college, I was truly prepared to venture onto the professional tour and climb the rankings."
Wimbledon or the Feeling of Playing at Home
"I grew up ten minutes from here, I've been coming to Wimbledon since I was a child, so playing in this tournament now is incredible. In these two rounds, there were many friends and family in the stands. Every time I look around, I see familiar faces, making playing here very special. I didn't even realize that the Princess of Wales was in the stands; at that moment, I was completely focused. Had I known before, perhaps I would have been a bit more nervous."
A British Identity Built Over Time
"Now I feel completely British. I have lived here for many years, train at the National Tennis Centre, and the federation has helped me tremendously. Ten years ago, perhaps I would have answered differently, but today, I feel British at heart. My mother, who was a professional, and my father have greatly influenced my development; thanks to them, I continued studying when other players left school early to focus solely on tennis. Maybe I've arrived later than others, but I feel fresh and believe I still have many years of career ahead."
This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Arthur Fery, el único superviviente en Wimbledon de un tenis británico en crisis
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