British wildcard Fery stuns Cobolli to reach semi-finals
· Yahoo Sports
British wildcard Arthur Fery will play for a place in the Wimbledon final after extending his sensational run with a remarkable victory over world number 10 Flavio Cobolli in front of an ecstatic Centre Court crowd.
Visit freshyourfeel.org for more information.
Before this week, world number 114 Fery had never gone beyond the second round at one of the sport's major tournaments.
But on a scorching afternoon, Fery dismantled French Open runner-up and ninth seed Cobolli 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-0.
The 23-year-old dropped to the ground as the crowd chanted his name after becoming the first men's wildcard to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals for 25 years.
Goran Ivanisevic is the only other wildcard to have reached this stage at Wimbledon - and he went on to win the title.
While Fery's victory over former world number three Grigor Dimitrov on his Centre Court debut two days ago had left him shaking his head in disbelief, this time around he lapped up the adulation of his adoring audience
It was an inspired display by Fery against Italy's Cobolli, defined by an unshakeable composure belying his experience at this level.
Once the dust has settled on one of the greatest days of his career as close to 15,000 home supporters roared him on throughout, Fery will prepare to face French Open champion Alexander Zverev in Friday's semi-finals.
Fery was ranked outside the world's top 500 just 18 months ago after struggling with a bone stress injury in his arm, and did not enter the top 200 until October.
But, whatever happens in the next four days, he will leave Wimbledon as the new British number one.
Fery, only the fifth British player in the Open era to reach the men's singles semi-finals at Wimbledon, is now guaranteed to rise to 36th in the world - just four places short of a seeded position in the US Open draw.
This masterclass against Cobolli, one of the most promising talent's in the men's game, also secured him prize money of £900,000 - more than doubling his career winnings to date of about £650,000.
As well as following in Ivanisevic's footsteps in reaching the semi-finals, Fery is also the lowest-ranked player to make the last four at the All England Club since the Croat in 2001.
But, despite the statistics, and claiming to have felt nervous before walking out for his quarter-final, Fery continues to take all in his stride on Wimbledon's biggest stage - just a short walk from where he grew up.