Wimbledon Wild Card History
Arthur Fery Makes History as First British Wild Card to Reach Wimbledon Quarterfinals
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Arthur Fery has made history at Wimbledon, becoming the first British wild card to reach the quarterfinals at a Grand Slam in the professional era — a record that dates back to 1968. AP reported that Fery grew up just five minutes from the All England Club and used to watch Roger Federer play on Centre Court as a child.
The run is a fairy-tale story for the young Briton. He now faces Italian Flavio Cobolli in the quarterfinals, Click On Detroit reported.
A Local Kid Turned Wimbledon History-Maker
Fery did not just grow up dreaming of Wimbledon — he grew up next door to it. His home is a five-minute walk from the All England Club, according to Boston 25 News. As a child, he sat in the stands watching Federer, one of the greatest players ever. Now he is on the same courts, making history himself.
No British wild card had ever reached a Grand Slam quarterfinal since the sport turned professional in 1968. That is over 50 years of Wimbledons, US Opens, French Opens, and Australian Opens — and none of them produced this result. Until now, according to WFMZ.
What a Wild Card Entry Actually Means
A wild card is a spot given to a player who did not qualify through the normal rankings. It is an invitation. Most wild cards exit early. Reaching the quarterfinals — the last eight players left — on a wild card is extremely rare at any major tournament, let alone at Wimbledon.
Fery earned his wild card from the All England Club, the organization that runs Wimbledon. British players often get these spots to give home talent a chance on the big stage, KIRO 7 noted. Fery has turned that chance into something no British player has done in the modern era.
Cobolli Waits After Stunning De Minaur
Fery's quarterfinal opponent is Flavio Cobolli of Italy. Cobolli is no easy draw. He knocked out Alex de Minaur, one of the top players in the world, earlier in the tournament, according to St. Albert Gazette. De Minaur had been considered a strong title contender heading into Wimbledon.
Fery will need to keep playing the tennis of his life to advance. But given what he has already done this fortnight, few would count him out. The crowd at the All England Club — his home club, in every sense — will almost certainly be behind him.
Wimbledon's Home Crowd Watches One of Its Own
British tennis fans have waited a long time for a homegrown hero at Wimbledon. Andy Murray won the title in 2013 and 2016. But a wild card making the quarterfinals is a different kind of story. It is a local kid, given a chance, seizing it completely, News4Jax reported.
The moment carries extra weight because of where Fery came from. He did not travel to Wimbledon. He walked there. That connection to the tournament makes his run one of the most feel-good stories of the 2025 championships so far.
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