Arthur Fery, the 23-year-old British tennis player, has become the unexpected star of Wimbledon 2026, carrying the nation's hopes after 15 home players were eliminated in the first round for the first time in 38 years. On Wednesday, he faces Italian Flavio Cobolli on Centre Court for a place in the semi-finals.
Background and Family
Fery was born in Sèvres, near Paris, to a French millionaire father and a former professional tennis mother. His father, Loic, is a hedge fund manager and president of Ligue 1 club FC Lorient, which he previously owned. His mother, Olivia, competed in doubles at the 1991 French Open and later worked as a business development manager at the Lawn Tennis Association. The family moved to London, settling a stone's throw from Wimbledon.
Education at King's College Wimbledon
Fery attended King's College Wimbledon, a prestigious public school charging £11,940 per term—approximately £33,000 per year. The school is ranked among the top 30 senior schools in the UK and is included in The Schools Index as one of the 150 best private education institutions globally. Notable alumni include Mumford and Sons singer Marcus Mumford, the son of Charles Dickens, and Prince Alexander Romanov, great-nephew of the last Russian Emperor.
Stanford University and the Bryan Brothers
Fery later earned a tennis scholarship to Stanford University in California, where he pursued a Science, Technology and Society degree. At Stanford, he worked with the legendary Bryan brothers—Mike and Bob, regarded as the greatest doubles pairing in tennis history. Bob Bryan recalled meeting Fery at Stanford: “We met Arthur a few times in Palo Alto at Stanford when we went to see the team. We were very impressed.”
Coach’s Praise and Wimbledon Run
Fery's Stanford coach, former US tour player Paul Goldstein, watched Fery defeat Grigor Dimitrov in the last round. Goldstein said: “It shows what a rounded individual Arthur is. He’s got friends who aren’t tennis players who are there in the box from all over the world. I couldn’t say I knew he would perform like that under pressure when I started recruiting him, but getting to know him it doesn’t surprise me. I think of Arthur as an independent thinker, an innovator, creative, and an extraordinarily mature young man.” Bob Bryan added: “All the players really respected him and knew his ability. I don’t think this is a big surprise to anyone that knows Arthur.”
Upcoming Match
Fery faces Cobolli on Centre Court on Wednesday, with the match expected to start around 2:30pm. He is the first wild card to reach the singles quarter-finals at Wimbledon since 2014.
