Serena Williams has issued a stark warning to British tennis hope Arthur Fery ahead of his Wimbledon fourth-round clash, describing his opponent Grigor Dimitrov as 'crazy'. The 23-year-old Fery is the only British singles player remaining in the second week of the Championships and will face the Bulgarian former world number three on Centre Court.
Williams Backs Her 'Bestie' Dimitrov
Williams, a seven-time Wimbledon singles champion, has a close friendship with Dimitrov and was seen embracing him before the tournament began. Speaking ahead of the event, she said: 'I always call Grigor my bestie, which he's definitely my guy bestie. It was so good to see him. I mean, we obviously communicate outside of Grand Slams. I haven't seen him in almost a year… [We were] just catching up. Always have so many good memories with Grigor. He gets my crazy. I get his crazy. Believe me, he's way crazier than I am.'
Dimitrov's Injury Heartbreak in 2025
Dimitrov's 2025 Wimbledon campaign ended in devastating fashion when he was forced to retire during his match against Jannik Sinner despite leading by two sets. The 33-year-old suffered a pectoral muscle injury that left him in tears on court and sidelined him for an extended period. He has returned this year via a wild card entry. Williams commented on his ordeal: 'He's so goodhearted and good natured. It was really tough to see that [retirement] last year. He's had a tough year just dealing with that injury. You just got to continue to fight and continue to come back.'
Fery's Path to the Fourth Round
Fery, ranked outside the top 100, has defied expectations to reach the second week. He defeated world number 37 Zizou Bergs in the third round, setting up his first meeting with Dimitrov. The British player has never faced Dimitrov before but will be buoyed by home support on Centre Court.
Dimitrov Prepares for Tough Test
Dimitrov overcame Matteo Berrettini in a five-set thriller in the third round and is aware of the challenge Fery poses. 'It's not going to be an easy match,' Dimitrov said. 'I have seen him play. He's a great competitor. He's playing at home. I mean, second week, Wimbledon, big court. I'm going to approach this match as every other match. There's nothing [that] has changed on my side. I'm just really going to focus on my side of the net and what I want to be doing out there and achieving on the court. Try to find a way around that match. You know, that's going to be for me, as I said, I have seen him play. He's a great player. Yeah, I'm sure we are both going to be ready for that match.'
