…By Henry George for TDPel Media.
During Daniil Medvedev’s victorious run at the 2021 US Open, Arthur Fery found himself watching on his mobile phone while traveling on the London Underground after a music festival.
This anecdote highlights the contrasting circumstances between Fery and Medvedev in terms of size, with Fery being nearly a foot shorter, and stature, as he is ranked 391st in the world, the lowest in the men’s draw.
Confidence and Familiarity with Wimbledon
Despite his underdog status, Fery approached his match against Medvedev with confidence, even proudly mentioning his academic achievements in interviews before Wimbledon.
Having attended King’s College School, located just a short walk away, Fery demonstrated a level of self-assurance.
Although he eventually lost the match 7-5, 6-4, 6-3 to the world No. 3, he displayed a commendable performance.
Fery’s Strategy and Crowd Support
Throughout the match, Fery frequently rushed the net, placing consistent pressure on Medvedev and managing to break the Russian’s serve twice.
His familiarity with Wimbledon, growing up just five minutes away and witnessing historic matches like the marathon encounter between John Isner and Nicolas Mahut, contributed to his comfort on the court.
Despite the match being considerably shorter than those legendary battles, Fery’s decision to attack the net showcased his determination.
Medvedev’s Experience Prevails
While Fery gained an early break and enjoyed the support of the crowd from the very first point, it was evident that Medvedev possessed the experience and expertise to control the match.
A brief interruption due to rain occurred with the scores at 5-5 in the first set, and upon resumption, Fery was immediately broken by Medvedev.
The Russian, making his first Wimbledon appearance in two years due to a previous ban, received a warm welcome from the spectators.
Fery’s Tennis Background and Future
Fery’s introduction to tennis came from his mother, Olivier, a former French WTA Tour player.
His father, Loic, serves as the president of FC Lorient, adding to the family’s sporting background.
Currently studying business at Stanford University, Fery is honing his tennis skills alongside his education.
While he demonstrates potential, especially on grass courts, Fery struggled to hold his serve against Medvedev, allowing the Russian to break him twice in each set out of 12 opportunities.