Britain’s rising tennis star Arthur Fery has earned praise from Princess Kate after becoming the first British wildcard to reach the Wimbledon Gentlemen’s Singles semi-finals in the Open Era. The 23-year-old showcased a commanding performance by defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, setting up a semi-final match against Alexander Zverev.

Princess Kate, who serves as patron of the All England Club, extended her congratulations to Fery and expressed support for his continued success in the tournament. In a message, she described his achievement as “fantastic” and noted the inspiration it has provided to many.

Following his quarter-final victory, Fery revealed he had spoken with Queen Camilla, who offered her congratulations. “She congratulated me. I told her how much of an honour it was for me to play in front of her. She just said, ‘Congratulations, keep going,’” Fery said.

Fery’s unexpected progress has generated enthusiasm among British tennis fans, some of whom have called on Prime Minister Keir Starmer to declare a public holiday should the 114th-ranked player win the tournament. One supporter, Luca Yates, 22, referenced the government’s previous comments about granting a holiday if England won the football World Cup, suggesting similar recognition be given in the event of a Wimbledon victory.

The semi-final appearance marks a significant milestone in Fery’s career and has heightened anticipation around his upcoming match with Zverev, a multiple Grand Slam finalist. His performance at Wimbledon continues to captivate the tennis world and energize British support for homegrown talent.