Arthur Fery has shared that his remarkable performance in the second week of Wimbledon has been bolstered by a recent nasal procedure and his newfound appreciation for the Godfather trilogy. As he gears up for what could be the most significant match of his career against Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, Fery reflects on his journey.
The 23-year-old has demonstrated resilience throughout the tournament, overcoming two five-set matches against Zizou Bergs and Grigor Dimitrov, both of which he won in final set tie-breaks after initially trailing. However, earlier in the tournament, he faced frequent interruptions due to nosebleeds.
Fery disclosed that he had a minor procedure to cauterize blood vessels in his nose following his victory over Bergs. Since then, the nosebleeds have ceased, with no incidents reported during his subsequent wins against Dimitrov and Flavio Cobolli. “I had a little procedure four days ago here on [my nose],” he explained. “That seemed to help. I’ve also tried to avoid wiping with a towel straight on the nose. I think that was also kind of not helping, so just a combination of things, just a bit of luck as well. “Just getting the blood vessels cauterised in the nose. A small thing. Nothing major. Didn’t hurt.”
He added, “rest and avoid any strenuous activities and sports for at least two weeks” Despite guidelines suggesting a two-week rest period post-procedure, Fery is set to compete just six days later for a place in the Wimbledon final.
Off the court, Fery has been indulging in the Godfather films, stating, “I’ve been watching the Godfather,” He intends to watch the third installment if he progresses to the final, which coincides with his 24th birthday.
Having lived in Wimbledon since childhood, Fery enjoys the advantage of a short commute from his mother’s home to the All England Club. This proximity has provided him with comfort, making him only the second wildcard in history to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals. “Bit of a throwback. Never watched it before. Just started it. I’m going to probably be going on to the Godfather 2 tonight.” he noted. “I’ve been staying at home, I finished late a few times so I just went home and slept,”
Motivated by various trophies and childhood memorabilia in his bedroom, Fery remarked, “I’ve had a day off every time between my matches. That’s been nice just practising. Had some normal dinners at home with my family and just relaxing there in my own bed. It’s nice to just chuck a movie on and not think about tennis a little bit.”
While he admits to being “I have not got pictures of [Andre] Agassi on the wall,” from cooking duties, he still contributes around the house: “There’s stuff on the wall that’s been there for a while. My mum moved house in 2018 so this wasn’t my childhood home. The classic, got all my trophies from junior events, the tournament badges, the passes, all that, so some memories in there.”
