Fery's former coaches 'super proud' ahead of tie

Childhood tennis coaches of Britain’s Arthur Fery have told the BBC they are “super proud” of their former pupil as he prepares for his first Wimbledon quarter-final against Italy’s Flavio Cobolli.

Fery, 23, lived in Wimbledon as a child and has come “full circle” by playing in the Championships, his former Westside Tennis Club coach Tinus Nortje said.

“A local player who grew up here. For him to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon is just unbelievable.”

Fery, ranked 114th in the world, beat Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov in five sets in the last 16 on Monday after entering the tournament on a wild card and is believed to be the first British wild card to reach the quarter-finals.

Nortje said: “From an early age I detected a very calm determination, which you don’t find a lot in players… always up for a challenge, works hard, great discipline. A lovely guy to be on court with.”

Nortje said Fery’s stint playing college tennis at Stanford in the United States “helped him hugely”, adding that the traits he showed as a child would matter in the last eight.

He will play Italy’s Flavio Cobolli on Wednesday, having beaten him in the first round of this year’s Australian Open.

Alison Taylor, who coached Fery from the age of four until he was 12, watched the win from the Royal Box.

She said former world number one tennis player Roger Federer watched the game and congratulated Fery on his performance. She added: “It was an amazing match, a real rollercoaster. Knowing Arthur, he’s just fearless.”

Taylor said Fery had been brought through the ranks “with slow, steady progress”, despite suggestions when he was younger that he needed more private coaching.

“He thrives on the big occasion, and he loves to perform.

“He’s worked so hard and he’s had a lot of setbacks with injuries,” she said.

“I felt pride for him, his family and his whole team. I played a small part in his upbringing and gave him a love of the game, but he’s put in the hard work and it’s showing.”

Young players currently training at Fery’s former club said they were inspired by him.

One member said: “It’s really wonderful knowing that he used to play on these courts… the whole community really knows him.

“And we’re all really proud of him and how far he’s been able to go.”

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