article-image

Fery overcomes Dimitrov in five-set thriller to reach Wimbledon quarters

1
0
Clock Icon1 HoursTennis

Arthur Fery has reached his first-ever grand slam quarter-final after defeating Grigor Dimitrov in a five-set thriller at Wimbledon.

Home favourite Fery won 7-5 3-6 4-6 6-4 7-6 (10-7) in just under four hours to set up a last-eight clash against 2026 French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli.

The 23-year-old made a strong start against Dimitrov in SW19, converting his only break point in the first set, which came in the 11th game, without conceding any of his own.

It continued to be a match of fine margins in the second and third sets with one break point converted in each, though both went in favour of Dimitrov as he threatened to upset the English crowd.

Those nerves grew when Dimitrov broke ahead in the fourth, but the Briton got the better of his opponents serve in back-to-back games to take the tie to the distance.

Neither player gave away a break point opportunity in the fifth, but Fery was able to get the job done and battle his way past the former world number three in the tie-break. 

Fery's next opponent, Cobolli, booked his place in the quarter-finals with a 7-5 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 victory over fifth seed Alex De Minaur.

Taylor Fritz also continued his fine form on grass this year with a 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 6-4 win over Alexander Bublik, with a potential last-eight tie against Alexander Zverev up next.

Fery keeps on dreaming

Fery is the first wildcard to reach the quarter-finals in men's singles at Wimbledon since Nick Kyrgios in 2014.

He is also the fifth wildcard to reach the last eight in SW19 overall, though Goran Ivanisevic in 2001 was the one player to go on to win the tournament.

Nevertheless, it has already been a hugely successful campaign for Fery, who has reached his maiden quarter-final at a major and recorded four consecutive wins at ATP-level for the first time.

Fritz, meanwhile, is one of the three players to reach the quarter-finals in men's singles at Wimbledon in each of the last three editions of the tournament, along with Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic.

The American has impressed on grass this season, reaching the final in both Stuttgart and Halle, though he did lose in both showpieces.