London (AFP) – British wildcard Arthur Fairy extended his sensational run at Wimbledon to the semi-finals against French Open champion Alexander Zverev after Marta Kostyuk set up a women’s last four showdown with Linda Noskova on Wednesday.
Released: 08/07/2026 – 16:14Modified: 08/07/2026 – 20:40
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Fery, world number 114, demolished Roland Garros runner-up Flavio Cobolli 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-0 to become the first Wimbledon wildcard to reach the men’s final four since Goran Ivanisevic won the title in 2001.
Incredibly, Fery is just two wins away from emulating Ivanisevic and becoming the first Briton to win Wimbledon since Andy Murray in 2016.
“Every match it gets better and better. This is incredible. I just can’t believe it,” Fery told his adoring new fans, who created a party atmosphere on Center Court.
He is the third lowest-ranked man since 1985 to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals, after world number 237 Vladimir Volchkov in 2000 and world number 125 Ivanisevic in 2001.
Fery, who turns 24 on Sunday, said he was congratulated after the match by Britain’s Queen Camilla, who watched his exploits from the Royal Box.
“I told her it was my birthday on Sunday so it would be great to play the Wimbledon final on my birthday,” he said.
Zverev cruised to a 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 win over sixth seed Taylor Fritz to reach his first All England Club semi-final, ending a seven-match losing streak against the American.
The German runner-up had never progressed beyond the last 16 of Wimbledon in nine previous trips to south-west London.
Alexander Zverev reached the Wimbledon semi-finals for the 10th time © Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV/AFP
“I’m really happy to reach the semi-finals, especially against Taylor, who I haven’t beaten in two years,” he said.
Zverev is only the third German of the Open era to finish in the last four of all Grand Slam tournaments, after Boris Becker and Michael Stich – the last German men’s Wimbledon winner in 1991.
“It’s a dream come true to finally play well at Wimbledon, I’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” he added.
Zverev, 29, will be a huge favorite against Fery on Friday, with defending champion and world number one Jannik Sinner or Novak Djokovic awaiting him in the final.
“I’m very happy to play him in the semi-finals, it will be a great atmosphere,” Zverev said of the fight with Feri.
Kostyuk reached his second Grand Slam semi-final in a row
Marta Kostyuk will play in her second Grand Slam semi-final in a row © Henry Nicholls / AFP
Ukraine’s Kostyuk cruised to a 6-3, 6-2 win over former Wimbledon finalist Jasmine Paolini in 69 minutes on Center Court.
She will face Czech ninth seed Noskova on Thursday for a place in her first major final.
“I was on this court once as a spectator nine years ago watching Roger (Federer) and to be back here as a player is amazing,” the 24-year-old said after her first appearance on the All England Club show court.
“I walked past the ‘wall of honor’, stopped next to it and paused for a moment.”
The 12th seed has lost just one of her last 22 matches – a semi-final loss to eventual champion Mirra Andreeva at the French Open last month.
Noskova, in good form, found herself the highest seed in the bottom half of the draw after the shock early exits of Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina.
The 21-year-old lived up to his expectations with a 6-3, 7-5 win over experienced Belgian 25th seed Elise Mertens on Court One.
Mertens fought hard in her first Grand Slam quarter-final since 2020 but was unable to cope with Noskova’s power.
Linda Noskova reached the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time © Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV / AFP
The Czech had an excellent campaign on grass, reaching her first Grand Slam semi-final and also claiming her second WTA title in Berlin.
Kostyuk had won her only previous meeting with Noskova, achieving quarter-final success on her way to the Madrid Open title earlier this year.
“This is a difficult question, it will never be easy,” Noskova said. “Martha, she’s an incredible player.”
Two-time Grand Slam champion Coco Gauff or Czech 10th seed Karolina Muchova will await the winner in Saturday’s final.
© 2026 AFP