Arthur Fery, the British wildcard ranked world No. 114, has a unique advantage at Wimbledon that top seeds Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Jannik Sinner lack: he sleeps in his own bed and eats home-cooked meals, living just minutes from the All England Club. This home comfort has propelled him into his first Grand Slam semi-final, where he faces No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev.
Home Comforts Fuel Fery's Run
Fery, who will crack the top 40 after this tournament, has been staying at home throughout the fortnight. He said: "I've been staying at home, I finished late a few times so I just went home and slept. I've had a day off every time between my matches. That's been nice just practising. Had some normal dinners at home with my family and just relaxing there in my own bed. It's nice to just chuck a movie on and not think about tennis a little bit."
He added: "I'm used to travelling and staying in a hotel, but it's nice. I know my surroundings, I know the place, everything around me is taken care of, so that's really a benefit to me. Wimbledon is obviously special in that regard."
Movie Nights and Family Support
Fery's movie of choice has been The Godfather, and he could get through the trilogy if he goes all the way. "I've been watching The Godfather. Bit of a throwback. Never watched it before. Just started it. I'm going to probably be going onto The Godfather II tonight," he said.
While he doesn't cook, he helps with chores. "I have been off the hook," he grinned. "I don't cook but I help with the dishes and everything else obviously. Bit less of that this week. Mum's cooking. I eat here. It's been changing. No real routine or superstitions. Just doing what feels best at the moment."
Junior Trophies and Family Legacy
In his bedroom, Fery is surrounded by trophies from his junior days. He explained: "There's stuff on the wall that's been there for a while. My mum moved house in 2018, so this wasn't my childhood home. Got all my trophies from junior events, the tournament badges, the passes, all that, so some memories in there."
His mother, Olivia, is an All England Club member and former player for France and Hong Kong. His father, Loic Fery, is president of Ligue 1 side FC Lorient. British Davis Cup captain Leon Smith noted: "He probably knows he's good enough to mix with top players, so that helps. I'm sure it's also helped that he's got a very successful dad, who will have worked really hard to get where he's got to. And also Olivia, his mum, played to a really good level. That has been passed on as well in his younger years."
Potential Weekend Showdown
Should Fery beat Zverev, he would set up a sensational sporting weekend for Britain, as England face Norway on Saturday. Fery added: "It's going to be a great weekend. It's great to see British sport doing so well. Obviously, the England team had a great win against Mexico. I'm sure they're going to do well against Norway."
