Arthur Fery believes a small nose procedure and a few nights with The Godfather helped him through one of the strangest runs of Wimbledon. The 23-year-old is set for Ferry match today against Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals, after a tournament that has already asked more of him than most players would ever expect.
Fery’s early matches were repeatedly interrupted by nosebleeds, and after beating Zizou Bergs he had a nasal procedure in the middle of the event to cauterise blood vessels in his nose. Since then, he has won back-to-back matches over Grigor Dimitrov and Flavio Cobolli without any nosebleeds, turning a medical problem into part of a remarkable campaign.
A small procedure, but a big difference
Fery described the treatment as straightforward and said it did not cause him any real pain. “I had a little procedure four days ago here on [my nose],” he said, adding that he had been careful about everyday details, even avoiding wiping straight on the nose with a towel.
He also made clear that the fix was not dramatic, just timely. “Just getting the blood vessels cauterised in the nose. A small thing. Nothing major. Didn’t hurt,” he said.
That matters because the official advice from the NHS is that anyone having such a procedure should rest and avoid strenuous activity and sport for at least two weeks. Fery has done the opposite in competitive terms, but the results suggest the gamble has worked so far.
What he watched away from court
Off court, Fery has kept things simple. He said he has been staying at home in Wimbledon during the tournament, finishing late on some days and then going straight back to sleep at his mother’s home.
He has also found time for a new distraction. “I’ve been watching the Godfather,” he said. “Bit of a throwback. Never watched it before. Just started it.”
And he is not done yet. Fery said he is probably heading on to Godfather 2 tonight, which adds another unusual detail to a very unusual Wimbledon story.
From Wimbledon resident to semi-final stage
There is plenty of history around this run as well. Fery, a Wimbledon resident from childhood, has become the second man in history to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals as a wildcard. On Wednesday, he even told Queen Camilla that the final would take place on his 24th birthday if he got there.
For now, the focus is simpler: a semi-final against Alexander Zverev on Friday. Fery has already shown he can deal with pressure, interruptions and discomfort. The next test is whether he can carry that resilience one step further and reach an even bigger stage.
