LONDON (AP) 鈥� There’s also an American angle to the French-born British player who and has reached the semifinals as a wild card at .
honed his game by playing three years of for Stanford University, where he was a two-time All-American.
Now he’s the first former Stanford player to reach the last four at Wimbledon since John McEnroe’s eighth and final Wimbledon semifinal in 1992, when McEnroe was beaten by eventual champion Andre Agassi.
Stanford University coach Paul Goldstein flew in for the occasion and was watching inside Centre Court when Fery eliminated French Open runner-up Flavio Cobolli in straight sets in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
鈥淎rthur always displayed an emotional maturity and a wisdom beyond his years,鈥� Goldstein told The Associated Press. 鈥淲hen I worked with him at school, it always felt like it was as much of a peer-to-peer relationship as it was coach-to-student relationship with a 25-year age gap between us.鈥�
As a sophomore in 2021-22, Fery became Stanford鈥檚 first No. 1 ranked singles player since nearly quarter century before him.
Before Fery signed for Stanford, Goldstein came over to see him play in the Wimbledon junior tournament in 2019. Fery reached the third round in singles and the semifinals in doubles.
鈥淛ust a highly intelligent person, certainly plays the game with a high tennis IQ as well,鈥� Goldstein added. 鈥淗is game was at an elite level from an early age. A very independent thinker, he just approached the game with a high level of professionalism from the time he got to school.鈥�
Still, Fery鈥檚 58-16 singles record over his three years at Stanford didn鈥檛 make anyone think he would make the jump to a Grand Slam contender.
In what has been labeled a 鈥淔erytale,鈥� Fery faces French Open champion Alexander Zverev on Friday for a spot in the championship match 鈥� with Sunday鈥檚 final to be played on Fery’s 24th birthday.
Ranked No. 114, Fery is the outlier in the semifinals among No. 1 and defending champion Jannik Sinner 鈥� who will meet seven-time Wimbledon champion Novak Djokovic (No. 8) in the other semifinal 鈥� and No. 3 Zverev.
鈥淲hat you鈥檙e seeing on display this week is a level of poise and composure that is beyond words,鈥� Goldstein said. 鈥淧ick your superlative and multiply it by 100.鈥�
Fery is now coached by Jeroen Benard and Benoit Foucher.
鈥淔ull credit to Arthur and his team for what they are accomplishing this year,鈥� Goldstein said. 鈥淚 am privileged to be an observer. And supporter.鈥�
Academics led Fery to Stanford
Fery, who was also an Academic All-American at Stanford, said he selected the school in Palo Alto, California, because of the academics.
鈥淏ecause it was going to give me a great backup plan if tennis didn鈥檛 work out,鈥� Fery said. 鈥淚t was just a great mix between academics and a super-strong tennis program.鈥�
Fery majored in science, technology and society at Stanford.
鈥淚t helped me mature, gave me a bit of time without too much pressure,” Fery said. “Just develop personally more than tennis-wise.”
Fery doesn鈥檛 need to worry about his tennis career fizzing out anymore. He’s the first wild card to reach the men鈥檚 singles semifinals at the All England Club since Goran Ivanisevic鈥檚 run to the Wimbledon title in 2001.
Bryan brothers
Bryan and his identical twin brother, Mike, developed into the sport鈥檚 best doubles team after their time at Stanford during the late 1990s. They credit Stanford with preparing Fery to handle the pressures of playing on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
鈥淲hen we went to the University of Georgia, there were 6,500 barking dogs eating us alive,鈥� Bob Bryan said. 鈥淲e went to Spain (for Davis Cup) and played in front of 30,000 in a soccer stadium, it wasn鈥檛 that bad. So college tennis prepares you for these environments.鈥�
The Bryans and Goldstein were teammates at Stanford as players, winning two national championships together. Bob Bryan beat Goldstein in the 1998 NCAA singles final.
The Bryans 鈥� who have a total of four Wimbledon titles between them 鈥� got Goldstein a last-minute pass into Wimbledon when he came over.
鈥淲e鈥檝e met Arthur a few times in Palo Alto,鈥� Bob Bryan said. 鈥淲e compared him a little bit to : Same build, beautiful backhand, can change direction. He was a quiet leader at Stanford. But all the players really respected him and they knew his ability. I don鈥檛 think it鈥檚 a big surprise to anyone that knows Arthur.”
Critical time for college tennis
Fery鈥檚 breakthrough coincides with several in recent months as Division I schools choose to redirect resources to fund direct payments to athletes in football and basketball.
With elite D1 tennis programs populated by foreigners, there鈥檚 also a debate about introducing regulations to reserve spots on teams for American players.
There were 36 players in this year’s men鈥檚 and women鈥檚 singles at Wimbledon with college experience.
鈥淭his is another validation and example of how college tennis is being played at the highest level,鈥� Goldtsein said. 鈥淢ore and young people are globally seeing this as a viable pathway towards making an impact at the professional game.鈥�
Added Bob Bryan, 鈥淭he level is off the charts. There鈥檚 definitely a place for college in between the (World Tennis) juniors and pro tennis. I think anyone coming out of the juniors should go test their level collegiately and to see if they鈥檙e ready for the pros.鈥�
___
AP Sports Writer Ken Maguire contributed.
___
This story has been corrected to show that Fery’s quarterfinal opponent was Flavio Cobolli.
___
AP tennis:
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
