British tennis sensation Arthur Fery has swapped a planned Greek beach holiday for the biggest fortnight of his career, after an extraordinary run to the Wimbledon semi-finals captured the imagination of fans across Britain.
The world No. 114 had expected to be relaxing in Greece with friends this week. Instead, the 23-year-old found himself battling through the Wimbledon draw, becoming the first men’s wildcard in 25 years to reach the semi-finals at the All England Club.
Fery’s remarkable journey came to an end on Friday when German star Alexander Zverev defeated him in straight sets, but not before the French-born Brit had become one of the stories of the tournament.
“I was meant to be going to Greece with some friends. We’ll see if that’s still in the cards,” Fery joked after his defeat.
He also revealed that one of his friends had already travelled to Greece, assuming his Wimbledon campaign would end early.
“One of my friends went ahead of time, hoping I would lose,” Fery said with a laugh. “He came back two days later and was supporting me.”
A Wimbledon fairytale
Before this year’s Championships, Fery had won just two Grand Slam matches in his career. Over the past two weeks, however, he defeated five opponents to reach the final four, earning widespread admiration from British tennis fans.
His incredible run attracted support from across the country, including a video message from England’s FIFA World Cup squad, while both Queen Camilla and Catherine, Princess of Wales, watched him compete at Wimbledon.
Ranking set to soar
Fery’s breakthrough is expected to propel him into the world’s top 40, opening the door to direct entry into ATP Tour events over the coming year.
“It’s going to change things, for sure,” he said.
“I’m going to be able to play tour events for at least a full year. It will be a challenge dealing with the expectations, but I’m already looking forward to it.”
The Brit also said he plans to take a short break before beginning the North American hard-court season, which is expected to culminate in his first appearance in the main draw of the US Open.
Greece can wait
Although his long-awaited Greek getaway has been postponed, Fery now has another reason to celebrate.
His run to the Wimbledon semi-finals earned him £900,000 (around €1.05 million) in prize money—meaning that when he eventually heads to Greece, the holiday may be even more memorable.
Fery may have missed the beaches of Greece this July, but after announcing himself on one of tennis’s biggest stages, it’s safe to say the sacrifice was worth it.