Wimbledon 2026: British wildcard Fery sails past Cobolli into semis; Zverev, Noskova and Kostyuk through – as it happened

REPARATIONS NEWS

Wimbledon 2026: British wildcard Fery sails past Cobolli into semis; Zverev, Noskova and Kostyuk through – as it happened | Wimbledon 2026

Story By #RiseCelestialStudios

Arthur Fery beats Flavio Cobolli 6-4 7-6(4) 6-0

It’s an absolute destruction, and we have witnessed perfection. It’s not possible to play this well, never mind play this well at this age with this level of inexperience, but Arthur Fery has done it, into the last four of Wimbledon as a 23-year-old wildcard! This is what sport is all about; this is what life is all about; and Fery is giggling at the unfathomable ridiculousness of it all. Oh my complete and utter everlasting, everloving days.

Fery good show Sir. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianFery (left) and Flavio Cobolli embrace at the net. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianFery signs autographs for the fans. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare

Updated at 12.58 EDT

Key events

Righto, that’s it form us for today – and it’s been something. Here are our reports:

Otherwise, though, it’s time to say goodbye, but not for long – Katy will be with you tomorrow for the women’s semis. Until then, though, peace out.

Kostyuk, meantime, has found herself over the last few months, brilliant in the clay-court season. She was great at Roland Garros too, but no-showed in the semi against Andreeva; if she does that again, Noskova has a really good chance of beating her, but if she’s at it, I don’t think it’s close.

I can’t wait for these semis tomorrow. Regular readers will probably know that Muchova v Kostyuk is my dream final, and I think that the matches are on their rackets.

Gauff is an amazing competitor and brilliant at finding a way to win, but she’s not playing all that well, while Muchova’s meld of power. touch and angles is vey hared to read and beat, especially on grass. A big backhand isn’t enough to beat it, so Gauff will have to serve really well and hope her forehand stands up; my guess is it doesn’t.

ShareShare

It’s wild that Fery is only 5”9. A few years ago I was trying to help a young player find an agent, and the first question I was asked? “How tall is he?” If it was less than 6”2, and it was, the bloke wasn’t really having it, and it makes sense – serves come from higher, wingspans are wider – and yet.

Imagine watching your nipper do this. I don’t know how you can even be there – I’d be an absolute mess – but somehow, they hold it down.

…and Olivia Fery personifies pride.

Photograph: BBCShare

Loïc Ferry wonders what on earth he brought into this world…

Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianShare

Updated at 13.20 EDT

I can’t think of many, if any times I’ve seen Cobolli so utterly debased. Only a month ago, he took Zverev to five sets in the final at Roland Garros, and the difference today was not grass versus clay. The onslaught just became too much – as everything Fery did worked, he lost faith in his ability to rebound, accepting that sometimes, we’re powerless.

Also going on:

“We do get an England v Germany semi-final after all!” says Dean Moull. “And now he’s GB No. 1 and 36 in live rankings too. Not too shabby!”

It’s astounding. In recent months, we’ve also seen Rafael Jodar and Maja Chwalinska vault up the rankings; the question now is whether they can stay there. Jodar, I’m certain, is special; Chwalinska I’m not sure about; and Fery is in between. I’m sure he’s a top-40 player with a good chance of top 20, but can he go further? He’s got the temperament, but now we need to see if he’s got the ability, or if he’s “merely” a very good player playing his best.

We’re going to keep this going for next 40 minutes or so, so please do send in your reactions to the insanity we’ve just experienced.

double quotation markBefore this tournament, Fery had just two grand slam wins to his name, he had yet to reach the top 100 and he was still just trying to bridge the gap between the lesser ATP Challenger Tour and the biggest tournament in the sport. Now he is a grand slam semi-finalist at Wimbledon, just a few minutes away from where he grew up. He is the second wildcard in the open era to reach the semi-final of Wimbledon.

Here’s Tumaini’s take…

ShareShare

Zverev is happy and hopes to play two more matches. He hadn’t beaten Fritz in two years, but “played a fantastic match” and is happy to be in the semis.

Told he seemed to find it easy, he says “nothing on a tennis court is easy,” noting that in his first service game, he faced three break points and was facing an opponent he’d not beaten in ages. He knew he had to be flawless and he was.

This time last year, he was already practising on a hard court, so he’s happy to just be in the tournament, playing well at Wimbledon is a dream come true for which he’s been waiting a long time.

Told about the noise coming from Centre as he concluded his match, he jokes “what, Cobolli won?” then says he knows the crowd won’t support him in the semi but it’ll be an exciting day for both of them – “it’s a fairytale story for Arthur Fery” but he has to trust himself and his tennis and hopefully he can just show a good performance.

“You’re a gent,” concludes Rishi Persad.

“Just seems to get better and better every match,” he says. “Just can’t believe it.”

Asked if he always knew this was in there, he exhales deeply, then says he beat Cobolli in Melbourne which was a boost of confidence so he knew he could do it. He was very nervous beforehand but just kept going and, asked if he was as cool as he looked, says it wasn’t like that on the inside. The last game, he felt emotions he’d not experienced in his life, and he’s sure his people in the stand felt the same – he’s so glad to share the moment with them.

Finally, told only two wildcards have made it to the semis of Wimbledon, one of which is him – the other is Goran Ivanisevic, who won the thing in 2001 – he’s asked how he prepares during the next couple of days. “Er, i don’t know, I’ve never been in this position before,” he chortles. “We’ll just figure it out as we go, bu I’m just gonna keep going. I’ve been doing a great job for the past 10 days, I’m just gonna do the same thing and see where that takes me.”

What a moment. The camera zooms in on his dad, close to tears, and I daresay there are sweaty eyeballs all over the place. What on earth have we just seen?

OK, let’s hear what the man of the moment – and day, and week, and fortnight – has to say….

Alexander Zverev (2) beats Taylor Fritz (6) 6-4 6-4 6-2

It’s an absolute destruction and we have witnessed perfection. Zverev hasn’t been that good this tournament, but this was what we thought we might see at some point: the performance of someone inhabiting a new level and a new version of themselves, buzzing off equilibrium and relief. He meets Fery next, and that should be a nice quiet night in at the library.

Alexander Zverev celebrates after winning his quarter-final match against Taylor Fritz. Photograph: Toby Melville/ReutersShare

Updated at 12.44 EDT

Arthur Fery beats Flavio Cobolli 6-4 7-6(4) 6-0

Updated at 12.58 EDT

Handed a second serve, Cobolli nets; an ace follows, 30-0. But next pint, Cobolli goes line, hits the tape, Fery slips … and still manages to pat back a winner, from the ground. In the crowd, his mum covers her face, unable to believe what she’s seeing, but she’s seeing it alright: her boy is amazing the world!

Fery forces a point for a triple break, which Cobolli saves, then another, and the young man zooms in to retrieve a drop, carefully ushers on to the baseline … and though he’s again circumspect with his overhead, the pressure tells and the Italian nets a forehand. He knows the jig is bust and, at 6-4 7-6 5-0, Arthur Expletive Fery will now serve for a place in the semi-finals of Expletive Wimbledon! He’s making this look easy!*

*this is not easy.

Zverev holds for 6-4 6-4 5-1, and this is the best I’ve seen him play on grass. In this form, he’ll take some stopping.

Alexander Zverev bashes out a backhand during his quarter-final against Taylor Fritz. Photograph: Toby Melville/ReutersShare

Updated at 12.26 EDT

Arthur Fery is not human. His tennis is good, of course, but what makes him special is his commitment to playing naturally and his obliviousness to the momentousness. He endorses to love, and leads 2-0 4-0, the warmth of his buzz enveloping us through our screen; this is an absolute kicking: Cobolli, who made the last eight here last year and the final at Roland Garros in May, looks lost and bewildered, beaten up and beaten down. This stuff just does not happen, yet here it is it, happening in front of our eyes.

And he’s not the only one! Zverev is wiping the floor with Fritz, a glorious backhand down the line – his rendition is, without doubt, one of the best shots in the game – giving him a double break too. He leads 6-4 6-4 4-1, and looks like a completely different player to the meek, defeated desperado we saw last year after Sinner destroyed him in the Aussie Open final.

Zverev breaks Fritz for 6-4 6-4 3-1, and he’s nearly there; my sense is both men know this is over. Meantime, Fery skids in to return a drop, it catches the outside of the outside of the line; 0-14. And when he nails a return, then a forehand cross, Cobolli nets a backhand, and he has two points for the double break! It’s an absolute outrage, this; how dare it be possible? This time, though, we wind up at deuce, then Cobolli nets a forehand and must face a third break point; he saves it, and gestures to the crowd that they’re suddenly less loquacious. Which is all very well, but it suggests they’re bothering him, and when we resume, Fery again outlasts his man from the back – his fitness is a joke – and Cobolli puts an inside-out forehand just wide! Fery is up two sets and a double break, and he’s earned every bit of it! This is a near-perfect performance, bursting with attitude and endeavour, skill and joy, and ast 6-4 7-6 3-0, he’s three holds away from … the Wimbledon semi-finals?!

Cobolli, though, isn’t giving up, landing a forehand on the baseline at 30-all that Fery can’t get back. Then, on break point, Fery tries a drop and it’s good but so too is Cobolli’s response. Again, though, Fery plays a decent shot and, when the lob is hoisted, he slam-dunks an overhead, on the retreat, which takes us to deuce. And though Cobolli finds a forehand for advantage, again, Fery plays a blinder of a point, showing ludicrous speed and will to stay in it, before devastating another smash for deuce. And from there, he closes out a thrilling, inspiring consolidation, once again playing his best tennis when he needs it most. Chris Evert is famous as the player least pervious to pressure, but it doesn’t seem to affect Fery at all. I’m absolutely nonplussed.

“Absolutely wild stuff happening on Centre Court right now!” marvels Matthew Leung. “I think we could be having our very own Cabo Verde moment. To quote Gary Neville on Vozinha: ‘Where has he been? We should have met him before.’”

In fairness to Fery, he beat Cobolli in Australia and he made smaller waves before then, but after today, his life will never be the same again. It’s amazing to watch.

ShareShare

At 30-all on the Cobolli serve, Fery swats a backhand return, taking the ball early, and the riposte goes into the net! Chance! And when a rally-ball forehand is also netted, the young Brit stots and prances, up two sets and a break! What on earth is going on, mates?

Fritz will be feeling exceedingly poorly. All the players know that, with Alcaraz absent, Djokovic on the wane and Sinner not at his best, this is a chance for them. But Fritz is 28, so knows he might not get a better opportunity, and he’s also closer to them than most; meaning he’s no chance of escaping pressure – and you can see it in the way he’s playing. He holds to trail 5-6 4-6 1-0.

Back on No 1, Zverev secures set two against Fritz and is playing very nicely, his 6-4 6-4 advantage a fair reflection of what we’ve seen. Ultimately, Fritz is an elite server, but nowhere near as good at the rest of the stuff, whereas Zverev has a brilliant backhand and a forehand that, when on, is also good and, abetted by the confidence winning the French Open gave him, that wider range of tools is allowing him to dominate.

Goodness me , the racket on Centre when Fery secured that set; we are witnessing something very, very special. We’ve no need to isolate aspects, we can enjoy them all, but his ability to stay simultaneously aggressive and composed is Hannibal Lecter-like. he must have the resting pulse-rate of a table.

A luscious drop from Cobolli saves the first set point, but a second serve offers Fery the chance to attack, and he clobbers to the corner. The italian, though, is quick, responding with a backhand slice cross-court … but Fery gets to it, retorts with one of his own, and Cobolli, nashing in, tries a desperate lob … and it’s long! ARTHUR FERY, A 23-YEAR-OLD WILDCARD, LEADS 2-0 AND IS ONE A SET AWAY FROM THE SEMI-FINALS! IT IS ABSOLUTELY RRRRRRIDICULOUS!

Arthur Fery celebrates after winning the second set. What a story! Photograph: Marko Đurica/ReutersShare

Updated at 11.55 EDT

Better from Cobolli, who gets Fery moving about the court by whipping forehands into the corners, and I wonder if his legs will carry him through a long match. But maybe he won’t need to, because a backhand into the tramlines gives him 5-3, the way he attacks the big points still a thing of beauty. And, as I type, Cobolli goes long on serve, meaning Fery has three set points at 6-3, while Fritz is broken from 30-0 up for 6-4 5-4; Zverev, who celebrates well, will shortly serve fo ra two-set lead.

Fery opens the breaker with an ace, then Cobolli sends a squash-shot backhand wide, ceding the mini-break at 2-1. And when offered a second serve, the Italian moves feet well … only to wallop his forehand into the net, then another service-point means Fery leads the tiebreak 4-1.

Photograph: Kieran McManus/ShutterstockShare

Updated at 11.48 EDT

We’re still on serve in set two on No 1, but Zverev is obviously in the ascendancy. Jack Slack, the fight analyst, often talks about taking away what your opponent does well, and Fritz is being fed sliced balls, denying him the bounce that allows him to unleash. And at 4-6 3-3 we move to deuce while, on Centre, Fery puts a forehand winer on to the sideline, then a netted forehand gives him 0-30; he’s two points from the set. Cobolli, though, is solid, an ace making 30-all, then a serve out wide is cleaned up to the opposite corner, and from there he closes out the hold – Fritz does likewise for 4-6 4-3 – so here comes the second-set tiebreak. If Fery wins it, Centre Court might lift off.

It’s getting lively on Centre, thwacking from the back then Fery tries a drop, the players meeting at the net, again, it’s the Brit who prevails. It really is impossible to overstate how ridiculous his behaviour is – his demeanour too – and he holds to 15 for 6-4 6-5. Can Cobolli hold to force a breaker?

Fery holds for 6-4 5-4, and that brings pressure for Cobolli, who was the better player in set one but lost the big points. And here are more, the Italian going long at 15-all, and this is a similar situation from which he ended up going 1-0 down. This time, though, he finds an ace not a double, then takes a while finishing the next point, perhaps opting to avoid corners lest he miss one; he gets there in the end then, at 40-30, Fery nets, and the roar Cobolli emits tells us how important that was. We’re back level at 5-5 in the second.

Fritz takes a medical timeout then, on the resumption, Zverev wins a net rat-a-tat-tat – he’s got much better at volleying over the last two years – then closes out a love hold with an overhead. Oh, no he doesn’t, he hammered it wide! What a miss that is, old Zverev the butcher, but he takes an entertaining game to 15 and leads 6-4 2-2.

Facing a second serve, Fery steps in … and punishes a forehand winner for 6-4 4-3 15-all. Then, next rally, Cobolli swats a backhand wide, before righting himself: his next second serve is much better, and he secures the hold for 4-4 in the second. The match may be decided over the next 20 minutes, because if Cobolli takes this set, he’ll be hard to sotp, but if he doesn’t, he’s in all sorts.

Fritz holds for 4-6 2-1, then out comes the trainer to look at his right knee, a chronic situation; let’s hope he’s OK.

Taylor Fritz receives treatment for his injured knee. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PAShare

Updated at 11.29 EDT

I’m not sure why, but Fritz is giving Zverev a lot of balls to his backhand, though it’s one of the best shots in the game; perhaps the aim is to turn his strength against him, but so far it’s not working. The German holds for 6-4 1-1, while Fritz has the trainer on standby as he decides what to do about his achy knee.

Fery’s ability to sustain a good level is very impressive – the best players, of anything, aren’t those whose best is the best, but those whose bottom and modal levels are highest. He gets himself to deuce on the Cobolli serve too, but an ace follows, then another, and that’s great stuff – he’s another with serious mentality.

Zverev leaps into a forehand down the line – he’s so much better at that shot than he was – raising break point in the process. Of course, Fritz then disburses a gigantic serve, then another, backed up with weapons-grade forehand … but he can’t close out the game, so back to advantage we go. From there, though, Fritz secures the hold, to trail 4-6 1-0.

Cobolli complains about noise, not for the first time, and the crowd enjoy his discomfiture – not something he shows us often. Then, when play resumes, Fery holds to 30, showing great patience in not seeking to hit a winner until it’s on. He leads 6-4 3-2.

Zvwerev opens the game with an ace but Fritz is varying his game more now, chipping when he might flat-back and making 15-30. Then he defends really well, taking the sting out of the rally, and whn Zverev errs he introduces racket to grass before facing the two break points; the first disappears via ace … and the second via unreturned serve. Another unreturned serve makes advantage, another seals the deal, and Zverev leads Fritz 6-4.

Back Centre, Fery has a break-back point and doesn’t he attack it, a heavy top-spinning forehand doing the business, and we’re back on serve at 2-2 in the second, first to Fery.

Cobolli consolidates to trail 4-6 2-0, while Fritz holds, challenging Zverev to serve for the set at 5-4. That first game aside, he’s struggled to make an impression, and perhaps lacks the variety necessary to dominate on grass.

Zverev feels confident. Leading 4-3 with game point on serve, after sending down a fault, rather than take pace off he puts it on – the kind of attitude so often missing when he plays big matches – and now leads 5-3 in the first, giving Fritz almost nothing to go on.

Alex Zverev in action against Taylor Fritz. Photograph: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 11.14 EDT

Fritz has a knee bothering him – he’s flexing and stretching it out – the last thing you need when down a break to Zverev at 4-3. Cobolli, meantime, immediately brings Fery back down to earth to shore, breaking him to love, and all that hard work might have already been undone.

Fery holds to love, and his ability to play his natural and best game, against top players and on Centre Court, is seriously impressive. He doesn’t wait to be asked, instead taking attacking options, and they – along with a double – help him to 5-4 30-all, two points away from the set. The umpire then interrupts proceedings, asking spectators not to open bottles between points, and Cobolli doubles again, meaning Fery has set point! And he whams a decent return back towards the baseline … then Cobolli tries an expansive inside-out forehand, perhaps the right shot but definitely not he sensible one, it’s wide, and Arthur Fery wins the first set 6-4! This is getting silly now.

Arthur Fery wins the opening set! Photograph: Clive Brunskill/Getty ImagesShare

Updated at 11.00 EDT

Zverev’s doing well to disrupt Fritz’s rhythm, using the forehand slice to vary angle and pace. That early break will have him feeling pretty good, because he rarely loses his own serve, and so far, he’s winning the tactical battle, up 3-2 with a break.

Cobolli is playing nicely – his forehand is a helluva shot and, because his levers are relatively short, he’s able to whip it through hard and flat, all the more so because he’s so quick. He holds to 30 for 4-4, the break never in conception, while Zverev consolidates to lead Fritz 3-1.

Flavio Cobolli in action against Arthur Fery. Photograph: Daniel Hambury/EPAShare

Updated at 10.50 EDT

Fery closes to 30-all, but a leaping forehand, whipped cross-court, gives Cobolli break point, and he has a look at a second serve … but it’s delivered with power and the forehand return flies long. I really like the way Fery sets himself before hitting his backhand – there’s something of Djokovic in that – and he uses it to secure his hold while, on No 1, Fritz plays an ill-advised drop when down break point, and Zverev deals with it, breaking for 2-1 in the first.

I can’t say I entirely understand why Fritz v Zverev is on No 1 – it’s a much better match, featuring far more likely champs, than Cobolli v Fery. And trailing 0-1, Zverev has to save a break point before securing his hold.

Cobolli levels at 3-3, and what a time he’s having. It’s great to watch players really enjoy what they do, and though the grind may eventually rob his joy, it feels like he and it are here to stay. Meantime, he’s makes 0-30 on the Fery serve…

Thanks Katy and hi everyone. I’m going to begin with an apology: doing Dimitrov v Fery the other day, I didn’t really think the upset was on. Rather, I assumed that Griggzy would do whatever the situation demanded he do, and my commentary reflected that. Well, I was wrong: Griggzy’s ability to find a way to lose remains legendary, but I was also surprised by how calm Fery stayed, and by his ability to sustain a suitable level. If he keeps focused, he’ll be in the top 30 before too long; he leads Cobolli 3-2 on serve.

Just as Fritz steps up to serve, so does Daniel to begin his stint. Over to you, Daniel …

Another Fery hold, this time to 15, and now he’s got 0-15 on Cobolli’s serve … and then 0-30, when he’s wise to Cobolli’s drop shot and then volleys away a winner on his next shot. Coming to the net could be a useful tactic against Cobolli, not allowing the Italian to settle in the rallies, and he would be wise to stop Cobolli using his ferocious forehand wherever possible. But Cobolli charges back to 30-all, and takes the next two points as well for 2-2.

“Hi Katy,” emails Simon McMahon. “If this match is half as good as either of their previous matches, or indeed Djokovic’s epic against Auger-Aliassime last night, it’ll be a cracker. I can’t email during Wimbledon and not mention the fact that I still miss Andy, 13 years now since he beat Novak in that final, and 10 years since he won his second title. Surely won’t be another 77 years before we have another champion …”

Updated at 10.34 EDT