British wildcard Arthur Fery extended his sensational Wimbledon run into a semi-final against French Open champion Alexander Zverev, after Marta Kostyuk set up a women’s last-four clash with Linda Noskova on Wednesday.
Fery, the world number 114, dismantled Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to become the first Wimbledon wildcard to reach the men’s last four since Goran Ivanisevic won the 2001 title.
Incredibly, Fery is just two victories away from emulating Ivanisevic and becoming the first British man to win Wimbledon since Andy Murray in 2016.
“It gets better and better every match. It’s incredible. I just can’t believe it,” Fery said to his adoring new fans, who created a partisan atmosphere on Centre Court.
He is the third-lowest ranked man since 1985 to reach the Wimbledon semis, after world number 237 Vladimir Voltchkov in 2000 and world number 125 Ivanisevic in 2001.
Fery, who turns 24 on Sunday, said he was congratulated after the match by Britain’s Queen Camilla, who was watching his exploits from the Royal Box.
“I told her it was my birthday on Sunday, so it would be great to play the Wimbledon final on my birthday,” he said.
Zverev romped to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 victory over sixth seed Taylor Fritz, making his first semi-final at the All England Clubby snapping a seven-match losing streak against the American.
The German second seed had never got past the Wimbledon last 16 in nine previous trips to south-west London.
“I’m extremely happy to be in the semi-finals, especially against Taylor who I hadn’t beaten in two years,” he said.
Zverev is only the third German man in the Open era to make the last four at all the Grand Slam tournaments, after Boris Beckerand Michael Stich – Germany’s last men’s Wimbledon winner in 1991.
“It’s a dream come true to finally play well at Wimbledon, I’ve waited a long time for it,” he added.
The 29-year-old Zverev will be a huge favourite against Fery on Friday, with reigning champion and world number one Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic awaiting in the final.
“I’m very happy to play him in the semi-finals, it’s going to be a great atmosphere,” said Zverev of facing Fery.
‘TERRIBLE’: UKRANIAN SEMI FINALLIST BLASTS IOC RUSSIA CALL
Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk slammed the “terrible” decision by the International Olympic Committee to lift some restrictions on Russian athletes, after reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals on Wednesday.
The IOC will allow Russian athletes to compete in team events and qualifications for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, although it has kept in place its ban on Russia’s flag and national anthem.
Ukrainians have refused to shake hands with Russian and Belarusian players at tennis tournaments since Russia’s invasion oftheir country in 2022, with Kostyuk one of the most vocal voices on tour.
“It’s terrible. I think it’s very, very far from fair play for all the countries involved here, not just for Ukraine,” Kostyuk said.
“I 100 per cent don’t agree with this decision. But I feel like a lot of people spoke out on this issue.
“They obviously don’t agree, as well. I don’t think anything is going to change. “I just want to go out there and hopefullybeat every single Russian I play in the Olympics, and that’s it.” Kostyuk reached her second consecutive Grand Slam semi-final with a win over Jasmine Paolini at Wimbledon.
The 24-year-old is determined not to let the Russian Olympic controversy distract her at the All England Club.
“I’m sure we’re going to do something about it,” she said when asked if Ukrainian players would raise their concerns with the International Tennis Federation.
“I’m definitely not going to be doing this before my semi-final match. “Maybe I can talk more about it in the US (American hard-court season) or wherever, whenever I have time to talk to the team, to the girls, to the government as well, see what we’re going to do about it.” Kostyuk said after her first-round win at the recent French Open that her family home was only narrowly missed by a Russian missile.
“On Monday they ruined like four streets of residential buildings. It was like five kilometres away from where my parents live,” Kostyuk said at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
“Again, another difficult night and a lot of dead people, innocent people, kids. It’s not easy. I try to be aware of everything that’s going on.” Kostyuk will play against Czech ninth seed Linda Noskova on Thursday for a place in her first major final.
The 12th seed will be hoping to make amends for her painful loss to Russia’s Mirra Andreeva in the French Open semi-finals.