Arthur Fery, the British tennis player ranked No. 114 in the world, will return to Wimbledon’s Centre Court to compete in his first Grand Slam quarter-final Thursday against ninth-seeded Flavio Cobolli. The pair previously met in the opening round of this year’s Australian Open, where Fery prevailed in straight sets.

Fery, who entered Wimbledon this year as a wild card, has demonstrated remarkable composure throughout the tournament. In his last two matches, he overcame deficits of two sets to one and secured victories in decisive 10-point tiebreaks. The 23-year-old British No. 3, known for his calm mindset, attributes part of his fearlessness to past experiences of taking controlled risks, such as cliff diving during summer holidays.

Reflecting on their previous encounter in Melbourne, Fery acknowledged that Cobolli was not at full health at the time, having dealt with stomach issues. “I’m sure he’s going to be at 100 percent of his capacities here, which maybe he wasn't quite in Australia,” Fery said, adding he expects a much tougher match this time around. Cobolli affirmed this, stating, “Australia, I was sick. Of course, Arthur is an amazing player, but that match I couldn’t play.”

Fery has impressed some of the sport’s elite during his rise, including world No. 7 Taylor Fritz. The American, who spent a week training with Fery prior to the 2024 ATP Finals, praised his rival’s powerful serve and forehand, noting that Fery consistently outperformed him in practice. “It doesn’t surprise me at all that he’s winning,” Fritz said.

Under the guidance of his coach, Jeroen Benard, Fery has flourished, particularly in handling high-pressure situations. Benard, who has worked with Fery closely, said his player thrives on the atmosphere and magnitude of major matches. “In Australia, I was more nervous going on the big court than he was,” Benard noted. “He really loves the pressure and the big stadium environment.”

Fery’s victories over seasoned competitors Zizou Bergs and former top-ranked Grigor Dimitrov illustrate his resilience and competitive spirit. Benard highlighted Fery’s character as a quiet individual who transforms into a focused and determined competitor once on court.

Despite his breakthrough performance, Fery maintains a grounded routine, spending time playing cards with family and keeping up with football highlights alongside his coach during treatment sessions. Benard emphasized that their preparation remains consistent with that of smaller tournaments. “It’s nothing different than if we were playing a Challenger in Croatia. We talk about tennis, sports, life in general,” he said.

Fery’s continued success at Wimbledon marks a significant milestone in his career and sets up an intriguing contest as he seeks to advance further in the tournament on home soil.