Arthur Fery has continued his remarkable run at Wimbledon by stunning Grigor Dimitrov in a dramatic five-set marathon to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time in his career.
Fery, who gained entry into the draw with the help of a wild card, pulled off a shock 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(10-7) victory in a roller-coaster encounter. The world No.114 was in danger of losing after going down a break twice in the fourth set, but somehow managed to find a way to get back into the match. Despite Dimitrov regularly serving at speeds in the range of 130 mph.
It is an unprecedented performance from Fery, who until this year’s tournament had only won two main-draw matches at Grand Slam level in his entire career. He is the first player from his country to reach the last eight of a Grand Slam event as a wild card in the Open Era. The last player to do so from any country was Nick Kyrgios in 2014.
“It’s incredibly tough to put words to what I’ve just felt on the tennis court, in front of you guys,” Fery said on Centre Court.
“The support was just phenomenal. I grew up five minutes from here, coming to watch matches on this court. We’ve got probably the greatest of all time (Roger Federer) watching and winning; it’s just unbelievable.
“I just kept fighting [when two games from defeat in the fourth set] and it paid off.”
It is the second match in a row that he has prevailed by winning a deciding tiebreak. In the previous round, he ousted Zizou Bergs 10-6 in the decider.
“It’s been the story of the tournament for me. I was really close to losing my last round as well,” Fery said.
“Just trying to keep fighting, keep trying to have a good attitude.
“I’m playing really well with my back against the wall and it paid off today.
“Now winning four matches, being in the quarters, it’s a dream of mine.”
There had been signs that the 23-year-old was in good shape but nothing that indicated that he was capable of going deep into the draw at The All England Club. Last month he reached his first Tour-level quarter-final in Queen’s, as well as the semi-finals of a Challenger event on the grass in Birmingham.
Meanwhile, Dimitrov exits the tournament having been so close to reaching the last eight for the first time since 2014. It is more heartbreak for the Bulgarian at Wimbledon after last year when he was leading Jannik Sinner by two sets before suffering a pectoral injury that forced him to retire.
The 35-year-old mentioned two days ago that he doesn’t know how many more times he will have the opportunity to play at SW19. Although he had made no public comments about his future yet.
