TENNIS: Briton Fery downs Dimitrov in battle of the wildcards

LONDON — British wildcard Arthur Fery defeated experienced campaigner Grigor Dimitrov in a thrilling five-set battle on Monday, winning 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(7) to reach the quarterfinals of Wimbledon.

Fery, ranked No. 114 in the world and the last British player remaining in the tournament, maintained his composure throughout the match to overcome the 35-year-old Bulgarian, who is 11 years his senior. Dimitrov, a former world No. 3 in 2017, has reached three Grand Slam semifinals in his career but has been hindered by injuries in recent years.

The 24-year-old Fery showed remarkable resilience against Dimitrov’s smooth and aggressive style of play, matching the veteran’s shot-making while feeding off the energy of the home crowd. In the deciding set tiebreak, he delivered two crucial aces to move closer to victory.

Fery sealed the win with a powerful serve that Dimitrov could only return into the net. He then stood with his hands on his hips in disbelief, soaking in the cheers from the crowd as the fading light marked the end of nearly four hours of intense and dramatic tennis.

-Reporting by Clare Lovell; Editing by Clare Fallon/Reuters