Wimbledon 2026: Arthur Fery stuns Grigor Dimitrov to reach first Grand Slam quarter-final
• 3 minute read
Arthur Fery’s fairytale run at Wimbledon continues after the 23-year-old secured a place in his first Grand Slam quarter-final, defeating Grigor Dimitrov in another epic five-set thriller on Centre Court.
The British No.3 - who was competing in the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time - staged another incredible comeback from two sets to one down to defeat former semi-finalist Grigor Dimitrov 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7) and send a packed Centre Court crowd into raptures.
It's a historic victory for Fery, who becomes the first British wild card – man or woman – to reach the quarter-finals of a Grand Slam in the Open Era, as well as the first male player ranked outside the world's top 100 to reach the quarter-finals at SW19 since world No.144 Nick Kyrgios in 2014.
There are few words to describe Fery’s run so far this fortnight. The 23-year-old arrived at the tournament ranked No.114 in the world, with only two Grand Slam victories to his name and having never won a five-set match.
Fast forward eight days and the Briton has kept British fans' hopes of seeing a home player crowned champion at SW19 alive by fighting into the final eight.
While he’s been one of the in-form players on grass this summer, not even Fery himself believed that he’d be a Grand Slam quarter-finalist this time last week and was left near speechless when talking about the journey he’s been on in south west London.
I couldn't have imagined it a week ago. I would have been happy to win a few matches here. Now winning four matches, being in the quarters, it's a dream.
“I mean the first time on this court (Centre Court), five sets against an absolute legend of the game. I grew up five minutes from here, I grew up coming to watch matches on this court. I loved playing here in front of all you guys, having the support, and winning, it’s unbelievable.”
“It’s been the story of the tournament for me," he added. "I was really close to losing in the last round and again today. A break down in the fourth, just trying to keep fighting, to have a good attitude and it paid off. I played really well with my back against the wall and it paid off today.”
Fery will look to keep the dream going when he faces Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli for a place in the semi-finals. The Briton beat the Italian at the Australian Open earlier this year, with Fery coming through in straight sets.
Naturally, it took Fery a few games to settle into the atmosphere on Centre Court, but once he got going, he looked like he was exactly where he belonged.
Dimitrov proved untouchable on serve in the opening exchanges and did not lose a point behind his delivery until 4-4, when Fery began to apply some pressure on the return.
The Bulgarian briefly faltered and Fery capitalised to stretch out a 40-0 lead. The Brit attacked Dimitrov’s first serve before the former world No.3 fired a forehand long to hand Fery the decisive breakthrough needed to take the opening set.
However, Dimitrov responded impressively in the second as he looked to silence the British crowd. Having saved two break points in his opening service game, Fery could not fend off a third at 4-3 as a backhand beyond the baseline handed the Bulgarian the break and allowed him to level the match at one set apiece.
Riding the momentum, the nine-time ATP titleholder broke early in the third and served superbly to maintain his advantage, winning 86% of points (19/22) behind his first serve. While Dimitrov’s level continued to rise, the British No.3 hung in there and refused to back down despite the Bulgarian taking a two-set-to-one lead.
The fourth set swung back and forth, with Dimitrov moving ahead twice before Fery clawed his way back to equal terms. At 5-4, with the world No.146 serving to stay in the set, a double fault opened the door for the Brit. Fery surged ahead to 40-0 and converted his third set point when Dimitrov steered a volley into the net, sending the contest into a nail-biting decider.
With neither player able to find a breakthrough, the outcome would be settled by a championship tie-break.
Having let an early mini-break slip from his grasp, Fery soon regained the advantage when Dimitrov pushed a forehand wide. The Brit then kept his composure to win the final two points, sending Centre Court, and eight time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer, into a standing ovation.
He's set to contest his quarter-final match against Cobolli on Thursday 8 July with timings to be confirmed.
