By GETHIN HICKS, REPORTER and MATTHEW LAMBWELL, TENNIS REPORTER and ISOBELLE MARTIN
Updated:
Follow Daily Mail Sport’s live coverage of the Wimbledon semi-final as Arthur Fery’s fairytale continues against French Open champion Alexander Zverev.
Fery’s route to the semis
By Isobelle Martin
Prior to the start of this tournament, Arthur Fery – or as he’s affectionally been nicknamed ‘King Arthur’ – had only ever won two Tour-level matches.
Yes, by the way, you heard that right.
The Brit, who grew up just a stone’s throw from Wimbledon, has so far beaten Damir Dzumhur, Otto Virtanen, Zizou Bergs, Grigor Dimitrov and Flavio Cobolli.
The victory over Dimitrov earlier this week made Fery the first wildcard in more than a decade to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Ahead of this afternoon’s match, the star has made history again, becoming the first wildcard to reach the semi-finals in 25 years. The last player to achieve this feat was Goran Ivanisevic in 2001, who went on to win Wimbledon that year.
Fery looks to join the greats!
By Matthew Lambwell at Wimbledon
Only two British men have reached the Wimbledon singles title since the First World War: one has a statue at the All England Club already and the effigy of the other is being moulded in clay as we speak.
That gives some idea of the magnitude of the occasion facing Arthur Fery today, as he looks to join Fred Perry and Andy Murray on the grandest stage in British sport.
To do so, he must beat French Open champion Alexander Zverev and overcome a disadvantage of nine inches in height and 111 ranking places.
A good afternoon to all!
Welcome, folks, to Daily Mail Sport’s coverage of Arthur Fery’s clash with Alexander Zverev in a Wimbledon semi-final.
I don’t think anyone, probably not even Fery himself, thought they’d be writing or saying that sentence a month or so ago, did they?
It’s a 6ft 6in German against a 5ft 9in Brit, the third ranked player in the world versus the 114th, and, let’s be honest, something akin to David against Goliath.
Stick with us for all of the action as it unfolds, with the match expected to get underway at 1.30pm.
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Arthur Fery vs Alexander Zverev – Wimbledon semi-final LIVE: The 23-year-old British wildcard’s fairytale run at the All England Lawn Tennis Club continues on Centre Court
