Tim Henman interrupted Clare Balding during the BBC's post-match coverage of Arthur Fery's victory over Grigor Dimitrov at Wimbledon. The British wildcard secured a quarter-final berth with a fifth-set tiebreak triumph, setting up a match against Flavio Cobolli.
Henman Halts Ivanisevic Comparison
Balding noted that Fery's 24th birthday falls on Sunday, men's final day, and suggested he could reach that stage. "It's his birthday on Sunday Tim! Men's finals day," she said. Pundit Jamie Murray replied: "It's written in the stars." Balding continued: "And 25 years ago today, so before he was born, the only wildcard to win Wimbledon, Goran Ivanisevic, did that. I mean..."
Henman interjected: "This is a much better story, let's not go back to 2001!" Balding retreated: "OK, let's just keep looking forward, you're right." Ivanisevic had defeated Henman in a five-set semi-final before winning the title, marking the third of Henman's four semi-final losses.
Murray's Analysis on Fery's Chances
Jamie Murray believes Fery will be a significant underdog against Cobolli, the No. 9 seed. "He would still start the match as underdog given the difference in ranking and experience, and Cobolli having just coming off the final at Roland Garros," Murray said. "But I think Arthur has proven to be a great grass court player and poses a lot of different questions to players."
Murray highlighted Fery's net play: "He's not afraid to come forward, he's approached the net more than anybody in this tournament. He asks different questions, asks players to come up with passing shots at regularity and Cobolli will have to be on guard at being rushed."
He added: "Arthur likes to take time away from his opponents - not necessarily through pure power in his game and in his shots, but more in his court awareness, court craft, coming forward, seeing his opponents off balance and rushing the net, ghosting in, crush and rush on the return, but also the ability to build his points."
