Fery to face Zverev in Wimbledon semifinal after wildcard run

British wildcard Arthur Fery moved into the Wimbledon semifinals on Wednesday, extending a run that has made him the first men’s wildcard to reach the last four at the tournament since Goran Ivanisevic won the title in 2001, AFP reported. He will face French Open champion Alexander Zverev on Friday, with Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic waiting for the winner in the final.

Fery, ranked 114th in the world, beat Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 on Centre Court. AFP reported that the result made him the third-lowest-ranked man since 1985 to reach the Wimbledon semifinals, behind Vladimir Voltchkov, then ranked 237th in 2000, and Ivanisevic, ranked 125th in 2001.

Fery, who turns 24 on Sunday, told the Centre Court crowd: “It gets better and better every match. It’s incredible. I just can’t believe it.” He also said Queen Camilla, who watched from the Royal Box, congratulated him after the match.

“I told her it was my birthday on Sunday, so it would be great to play the Wimbledon final on my birthday,” Fery said.

Zverev reaches first Wimbledon semifinal

Zverev, the German second seed, advanced with a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over sixth seed Taylor Fritz. AFP reported that the victory ended Zverev’s seven-match losing streak against Fritz and put him into the semifinals at the All England Club for the first time.

Zverev had not gone beyond the last 16 in his previous nine Wimbledon appearances. He also became the third German man in the Open era to reach the semifinals at all four Grand Slam tournaments, after Boris Becker and Michael Stich, according to AFP.

“I’m extremely happy to be in the semifinals, especially against Taylor, who I hadn’t beaten in two years,” Zverev said. He added: “It’s a dream come true to finally play well at Wimbledon. I’ve waited a long time for it.”

On facing Fery, Zverev said: “I’m very happy to play him in the semifinals. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.” In the other men’s semifinal, reigning champion and world number one Sinner will play Djokovic, the 24-time men’s Grand Slam champion.

Kostyuk and Noskova set women’s semifinal

In the women’s draw, Ukraine’s Marta Kostyuk beat former Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini 6-3, 6-2 in 69 minutes on Centre Court. The 12th seed will play Czech ninth seed Linda Noskova on Thursday for a place in her first Grand Slam final.

Kostyuk said her appearance on Centre Court carried personal meaning. “I was on this court as a spectator once, nine years ago, watching Roger [Federer], and to be back here as a player is amazing,” she said. “I walked past the ‘wall of honour’, stood beside it, and took a moment.”

AFP reported that Kostyuk has lost only once in her past 22 matches, a French Open semifinal defeat to eventual champion Mirra Andreeva.

Noskova reached her first major semifinal by defeating Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens 6-3, 7-5 on Court One. AFP reported that Mertens was playing her first Grand Slam quarterfinal since 2020, while Noskova continued a grass-court season that also included her second WTA title in Berlin.

Kostyuk won their only previous meeting, beating Noskova in straight sets in the Madrid Open quarterfinals earlier this year. “A tough one – it’s never going to be easy,” Noskova said. “Marta, she’s an incredible player.”

The winner of Kostyuk-Noskova will face either two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff or Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova in Saturday’s final.

This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.