Latest news with #ArthurFery
South Wales Argus
3 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Arthur Fery believes right balance key to Wimbledon success
Arthur Fery believes he has found the right balance as he gears up for maiden second round appearance at Wimbledon. The 22-year-old is set to lock horns with Italy's Luciano Darderi on Wednesday, days after finally breaking through with a first-ever win in SW19 by taking down 20th seed Alexei Popyrin 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4. It was only last year that the Fery reached a career-high ranking of 229 but injury struggles have since seen him tumble down to 461. But the British wild card believes that the worst is now behind him and he is eager to make up for lost time. "I'm confident in my tennis. I just haven't really been able to play that much in the past year or so," said Fery. "I've just got to try and stay healthy and keep improving. That's the most important thing. The ranking will come and I definitely feel like I can play at this level. I took out a seed but all these guys are incredible players. "It's just going to be another match and I've got to get ready for it. Ranking, at the end of the day, doesn't mean that much. It's anyone's match on any day. "I'm just going to try and practice as well as I can for Wednesday and get ready for that. I think one match at a time. "It's obviously a big tournament with more points than if I was playing a challenger but at the end of the day it's just a tennis match. "I've just got to stay on the right line and keep moving forwards." For Fery, Wimbledon is not just about the grass court, Pimm's and strawberries and cream. Having grown up in the area, the tournament marks a homecoming for the 22-year-old and he plans to savour every moment of it. "It's very special," added Fery. "I live so close and every year I'm very grateful to play here. I've always got friends and family around the court supporting. "I've been to this place since I was five or six and to play here and win matches here is very special." Fery will take on Darderi for a place in the third round following the Italian's five set victory over Roman Safiullin. Victory there would set up a tie with either Jordan Thompson or Benjamin Bonzi, who defeated Daniil Medvedev in his first round encounter, meaning the draw has opened up significantly for the British hope. And the 22-year-old hopes a successful stint in SW19 can help kickstart his career again "Hopefully soon enough I won't need wild cards to play here," he said. "I am very confident in myself. I just got to try and stay healthy and keep improving. That's the most important. Yeah, the ranking will come. I definitely feel like I can play at this level."
Wales Online
4 hours ago
- Business
- Wales Online
Wimbledon star is heir to £200million fortune thanks to rich dad who also owns football club
Wimbledon star is heir to £200million fortune thanks to rich dad who also owns football club Arthur Fery stunned the tennis world by beating Alexei Popyrin in the first round at Wimbledon, and the Brit has family ties to the world of football, with his father owning a Ligue 1 club Arthur Fery has made waves at Wimbledon (Image: Ezra Shaw, Getty Images ) Arthur Fery has caused a stir at Wimbledon with his first-round win over Alexei Popyrin, but his father's net worth has also got fans talking. The Briton advanced to the second round of the tournament with a 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 win over Popyrin, despite being ranked 461st on the ATP Tour to the Australian's 20th seed placement. And as a result, he will now face Luciano Darderi on Wednesday as he looks to make a name for himself at his maiden Grand Slam. Reflecting on his win, the 22-year-old said: "It's probably the most proud day in terms of my tennis career. It's great, and hopefully I can keep going and stay healthy for the rest of the year." Beyond tennis, Fery is connected to football through his father, Loic Fery, who owns Ligue 1 club FC Lorient, a competitor of Sir Jim Ratcliffe's OGC Nice. Loic took over Lorient at the age of 35 in 2009, having been influenced by former Sunderland owner Ellis Short, whose son played junior tennis with Arthur. Article continues below Connections such as Arsene Wenger have also been beneficial for Loic, who now has a net worth of £222million. In 2021, Loic spoke about his journey into football club ownership, explaining: "I learned from Ellis, seeing everything that he went through with Sunderland and those misadventures. "His son played some tennis with Arthur so I got to know him. I grew up playing tennis, it was my sport, I was playing regional level competitions until I was 16. "I wasn't playing to the level of my wife or Arthur but I am competitive in everything I do. I've always very much enjoyed playing football as well. Arthur Fery has made a splash in his first Grand Slam (Image: Getty ) "I looked at investing in Sheffield Wednesday and also Leeds United, and got as far as making an on-site visit. But I thought Lorient was better value from the point of developing a business and it has been a good story so far. When I took over the club, it was in a bad financial situation with negative equity, but we have been able to balance the books over the past 11 seasons," reports the Express. Arthur's mother, Olivia, herself a distinguished tennis player, clinched two singles titles during her career and retired boasting a record of 33-25 in the discipline. Ratcliffe has recently been in the spotlight for his involvement with Manchester United, aiming to bring the club back to its heyday in the coming years. Article continues below Meanwhile, the INEOS boss is the proprietor of Nice, who secured a fourth-place finish in Ligue 1 last term. Yet he put the club on the market in May, asking over £200m in a surprising turn of events. Considering Ratcliffe's comments from March, it seems the 72-year-old may have lost his enthusiasm for watching the French club's matches. Millionaire Loic Fery owns Ligue 1 club Lorient (Image: Getty ) Despite INEOS insisting they are not neglecting Nice in favour of United, billionaire Ratcliffe, with an estimated fortune of £12.5billion, told The Times: "I don't particularly enjoy going to watch Nice because there are some good players, but the level of football is not high enough for me to get excited."
The Guardian
7 hours ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Alexei Popyrin crashes out of Wimbledon after losing to world No 461
Alexei Popyrin has crashed out of Wimbledon to a British player ranked No 461 in the world while only a wonderful trademark comeback from Jordan Thompson could rescue a poor start for the Australian contingent on the sun-drenched grass-court grand slam. Big-serving Popyrin, the 20th seed and the biggest Australian men's hope beyond Alex de Minaur, tumbled out to French-born English wildcard Arthur Fery 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets of the opening Monday. As the sun burned down on one of the hottest days in the Championships' annals, most of the Australian contingent of 17, the country's biggest battalion of players in 30 years, were swiftly put in the shade with Kim Birrell, Chris O'Connell and Olivia Gadecki all losing. But their defeats paled in comparison to Popyrin's as he went down to wildcard Fery, a 22-year-old Wimbledon local who took full advantage of his home advantage at the All England Club where his businessman father is a member. Popyrin has been bemoaning his lack of consistency and, after an impressive showing at the French Open where he was Australia's last man standing, reaching the fourth round, he was quickly dumped down to earth again in front of a roaring crowd on the cramped court 15. It came as a huge let-down after Thompson had brushed aside his injury worries to deliver the first green-and-gold victory. The 31-year-old summoned up his familiar spirit on his favourite lawns to scrap his way back, eventually prevailing 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-1), 6-1 against Czech Vit Kopriva for his third comeback from two sets down at Wimbledon in successive tournaments. In all, it was the Sydneysider's fourth five-set win at his favourite grass-court slam but it could have come at the cost of another injury setback. Thompson, who feared he might not even get to the start line because of his latest back problem in a year of injury woe, still wasn't sure if he would now be fit to play his next match against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who pulled off another contender for shock of the day by knocking out Daniil Medvedev. Sign up to Australia Sport Get a daily roundup of the latest sports news, features and comment from our Australian sports desk after newsletter promotion The rest, though, was a tale of woe, from the moment Kim Birrell became the first player knocked out in a completed match at this year's championships – 6-0, 6-4 to last year's semi-finalist and 22nd seed, Donna Vekic – to Ajla Tomljanovic's late-evening loss to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. There were a couple of gallant cracks at causing an upset, with Sydneysider James Duckworth taking Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime to five sets before losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-7 (2-7), 6-4, 6-4. Then 21-year-old Perth qualifier Talia Gibson also made it tough for four-time grand slam champ Naomi Osaka in the biggest match of her career, twice missing out when serving to take the contest into a third set, before the Japanese star made her pay with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) triumph. Chris O'Connell found the ever tricky French veteran Adrian Mannarino too much to handle, going down 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 in two-and-a-quarter one-sided hours, while Gadecki battled gallantly, saving five match points only to eventually succumb 6-2, 7-6 (10-8), to Argentine Solana Sierra.
Daily Mail
15 hours ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Disaster at Wimbledon as one star's 'sad' win saves Aussies from a complete wipeout
Crestfallen Alexei Popyrin has crashed out to a Briton ranked No.461 in the world while only a wonderful trademark comeback from Jordan Thompson could rescue Australia's depressingly icy start to Wimbledon 's hottest opening day ever. Big-serving Popyrin, the 20th seed and the biggest Australian men's hope apart from Alex de Minaur, was left 'numb' after tumbling out to French-born English wildcard Arthur Fery 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4 in one of the biggest upsets of a record-breaking first Monday. And even never-say-die Thompson cut a forlorn figure after his latest comeback win from two sets down against Czech Vit Kopriva, admitting his back injury made the victory no fun and that he might still have to pull out of his second-round match. As the temperature hit 32.9C, the rest of the first wave of Australia's 17-strong battalion - their biggest for 30 years - were all put in the shade with seven players in all tumbling out in conditions which one victim, Olivia Gadecki, admitted had been perfect conditions for the green-and-gold contingent. Of those, none was more deflating than Popyrin's capitulation to wildcard Fery, a 22-year-old local Wimbledon lad who took full advantage of his 'home' advantage at the All England Club where his businessman father is a member. Fery, whose dad Loic owns French soccer club Lorient, was a huge long shot, not even originally in the initial batch of wildcards named by the All England Club because his ranking had dropped so low, until he turned heads with a fine performance at Nottingham. But world No.22 Popyrin felt he'd played so poorly against a man ranked 439 places below him that, afterwards, he sounded almost as dejected, demotivated and burned out as de Minaur had done following his early exit from the French Open. 'I just felt numb, I didn't feel sad, I didn't feel happy, I just felt numb,' he sighed. 'And that's not a feeling I've ever had before. 'I think it just shows that I understand why this result happened. It was because I was under-prepared going into Wimbledon, demotivated going into Wimbledon.' The Sydneysider has been bemoaning his lack of consistency and after being Australia's last man standing at Roland Garros, reaching the fourth round, he was quickly dumped down to earth again in front of a roaring crowd on cramped court 15. Thompson was magnificent in summoning up his familiar spirit on his favourite lawns to scrap his way back, eventually prevailing 3-6 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 against Kopriva for his third comeback from two sets down in three successive Wimbledons. In all, it was Thompson's fourth five-set win at his favourite grass-court slam -- but at what cost? 'Tommo', who feared he might not even get to the start line because of his latest back problem in a year of injury woe, still wasn't sure if he'd now be fit to play his next match against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who pulled off another contender for shock of the day by knocking out Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2. 'I'm just praying I can get back on the court,' said the 31-year-old. 'I'm taking painkillers, anti-inflammatories, but sometimes they can't really help. 'I'm just lucky to be on court even though it is sad that it's Wimbledon and I am not enjoying it as much as I usually do. 'I love playing tennis, competing, running around. I love getting the balls I probably shouldn't and I can't do that at the moment. It's extremely frustrating to watch balls go past me that I'm not even close to because I can't move. Practising, warming up, is just putting my body through hell. 'I don't think anyone would enjoy that. The rest, though, was a long, burning tale of woe, from the moment Kim Birrell became the first player knocked out in a completed match at this year's championships - 6-0 6-4 to last year's semi-finalist and 22nd seed Donna Vekic - to Ajla Tomljanovic's late-evening loss to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 4-6 6-3 6-2. There were a couple of gallant cracks at causing an upset, with Sydneysider James Duckworth taking Canadian 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime to five sets before losing 6-2 3-6 6-7 (2-7) 6-4 6-4. Then 21-year-old Perth qualifier Talia Gibson also made it tough for four-time grand slam champ Naomi Osaka in the biggest match of her career, twice missing out when serving to take the contest into a third set, before the Japanese superstar made her pay with a 6-4 7-6 (7-4) triumph. Chris O'Connell found the ever tricky French veteran Adrian Mannarino too much to handle, going down 6-2 6-4 6-3 in two-and-a-quarter one-sided hours, while Gadecki battled gallantly, saving five match points only to eventually succumb 6-2 7-6 (10-8) to Argentine lucky loser Solana Sierra.
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
British players make history on magical Monday at Wimbledon
Katie Boulter, Sonay Kartal and Arthur Fery were the stars of the show on a record-breaking opening day for the large British cohort at Wimbledon. The trio were among seven home players to record victories at the All England Club, the best tally on any day of the championships in the open era. Advertisement The best was saved for last as Boulter took out ninth seed Paula Badosa 6-2 3-6 6-4 on Centre Court, with Britain's top two women both through after Emma Raducanu comfortably defeated compatriot Mimi Xu. Katie Boulter celebrates her victory over Paula Badosa (Ben Whitley/PA) British number three Kartal and wild card Fery saw off the respective women's and men's 20th seeds, with the former ousting Jelena Ostapenko 7-5 2-6 6-2 and the latter defeating Alexei Popyrin 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-4. For Fery, it is by a long distance the biggest victory of his life, with the 22-year-old only once having beaten a top-100 player before. Fery, whose French father Loic owns Lorient football club, has seen his ranking drop outside the top 400 but he made a mockery of that with a treasured first Wimbledon victory. Advertisement Fery, who lives down the road, lost to Daniil Medvedev on his debut two years ago and then heartbreakingly in five sets against Daniel Altmaier last summer. 'I think I used the experience from last year to get over the line today,' he said. 'Last year was really tough to lose in that manner. So definitely very proud and very special moment today to win here.' Kartal reached the third round as a qualifier 12 months ago but her hopes of another good run appeared to have been dealt a blow when she drew seasoned grass-court campaigner Ostapenko in round one. The Latvian is a former semi-finalist and beat Kartal in Eastbourne last week but, after recovering from 5-2 down in the opening set and saving three set points, the 23-year-old also proved the stronger in the decider. Arthur Fery celebrates winning his match against Alexei Popyrin (Jordan Pettitt/PA) It is Kartal's third best win by ranking of her career and her best at a grand slam. Advertisement She described the match as one of the toughest she had ever played, saying: 'Typically I struggle against the big hitters. So to be able to do that, get the win in front of the home crowd, I'm super proud of that one. 'I feel confident. I feel like this is the best I've ever played on grass. It's the most confident I've also got in my game, as well. I think I'm in a pretty good spot for round two.' Kartal's win was swiftly followed by another notable British success, this time for debutant Oliver Tarvet, who made it four victories in a row after coming through qualifying with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over Swiss Leandro Riedi to earn a crack at Carlos Alcaraz. Sonay Kartal waves to the Court Three crowd (Mike Egerton/PA) Former British number one Cameron Norrie claimed his first win on grass this year with a narrow 6-3 3-6 6-4 7-6 (3) victory over Spanish veteran Roberto Bautista Agut. Advertisement Norrie rediscovered his form on clay after almost dropping out of the top 100 and will next take on 12th seed Frances Tiafoe. 'I wanted to enjoy like a kid playing Wimbledon again,' said Norrie. 'I was not thinking I was British number one or British number two. I was there to play and enjoy the match. 'I've been playing well, feeling the ball good. It was time to just compete. He's one of the toughest guys to compete against, so I really had to earn the win today and earn the competitive certificate against him.' The final British winner was Billy Harris, who took advantage of a change of opponent to claim a comprehensive 6-3 6-2 6-4 victory over lucky loser Dusan Lajovic for his first grand slam success. Advertisement The world number 151 had been due to play former semi-finalist Hubert Hurkacz before he withdrew. Seven home players suffered first-round losses, with British number two Jacob Fearnley the major disappointment after going down in straight sets to hot Brazilian prospect Joao Fonseca. Harriet Dart, debutant Oliver Crawford, former boys' champion Henry Searle and 16-year-olds Hannah Klugman and Mika Stojsavljevic also exited the tournament.
