Wimbledon today: Zizou Bergs tests Britain's last singles hope
British interest at Wimbledon now rests on Arthur Fery, and his third-round meeting with Zizou Bergs gives home fans a clear reason to watch Court 18. Fery, the only British player left in either singles draw, faces a Belgian opponent ranked 37th in the world and fresh from winning the Eastbourne title. The reward is a place in the fourth round, while victory would also take Fery into the world's top 100 for the first time.
Context & Background
Fery arrived at Wimbledon as a wildcard and has already produced the best Grand Slam result of his career. He came from a set down against Damir Dzumhur, then repeated the comeback against Otto Virtanen, winning 5-7, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, 6-3 on Court 18. The LTA match report said he faced only one break point and hit 43 winners.
The wider British picture makes the Bergs match more significant. Fifteen home players lost in the first round, the highest total since 1988, and only four reached round two. After Katie Swan, Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski were eliminated, Fery became the first lone British survivor across both singles draws at this stage since 2018.
A bone bruise in his racket arm helped push Fery's ranking down to 461 last year, but he fought back through the Challenger circuit and strong grass-court results. At 5ft 9in, he also gives away height to many opponents, so movement, variation and an all-court game are central to his style.
Here's What Happened
Against Virtanen, Fery lost serve only once, at 5-5 in the opening set, and then suffered another nosebleed. He recovered by taking the second-set tie-break and did not offer the Finn another break point. Three more breaks across the final two sets completed a comeback lasting just over three hours.
That victory set up the meeting with Bergs. The Belgian is the higher-ranked player at a career-high 37 and arrives after winning the Eastbourne title last weekend. Fery will start as the underdog, but a win would put him in the last 16 and lift him into the top 100 for the first time.
The match returns to Court 18 rather than Centre Court or Court One. Wimbledon said Fery likes the court and that the decision fitted wider scheduling considerations.
Fery's preparation is unusually local. He grew up around 10 minutes from the All England Club and can sleep at home during the tournament rather than staying in hotels or apartments. After university at Stanford and a delayed rise through the professional rankings, his biggest career run is unfolding on his doorstep.
The Response
Alex Ward, the LTA men's national coach who has worked with Fery for the past 18 months, says self-belief is one of the player's defining qualities. He also argues that Fery's height has forced him to develop a broader game, including defending, attacking, coming to the net and changing the pattern of rallies.
He believes, not in an arrogant way, he can beat the players he's playing here.
Fery has resisted the idea that carrying British hopes adds pressure. After beating Virtanen, he said he was pleased to do well for the UK but was playing for himself first. He also said he did not know the Princess of Wales was watching part of his second-round match because he was locked into the contest.
The Bigger Picture
For British tennis, the Bergs match is bigger than one place in the fourth round. The home singles challenge thinned out quickly, while Emma Raducanu and Jack Draper had withdrawn before play. A player ranked outside the top 100 has therefore become the centre of attention at SW19.
There is also a clear ranking consequence. Even a defeat would leave Fery at a new career high of 107, according to the i Paper, while beating Bergs would move him into the top 100 and make him British number two. That would mark a sharp recovery from 461 last year.
His nosebleeds are the one unresolved physical issue mentioned by his team. Ward said the cause is not known and that doctors plan to investigate after Wimbledon. The immediate question is whether Fery's movement and variety can disrupt a player carrying the confidence of a recent grass-court title.
The Road Ahead
Fery and Bergs meet on Saturday on Court 18 for a place in the Wimbledon fourth round. No further confirmed match details are included in the provided reports.
After the tournament, Fery's team also plans further medical checks into the nosebleeds he has experienced during matches.
People Also Ask
Who is Zizou Bergs playing at Wimbledon?
Zizou Bergs is playing Britain's Arthur Fery in the third round. The match is scheduled for Saturday on Court 18, with a place in the fourth round at stake.
What is Zizou Bergs' ranking?
The reports list Bergs as world number 37, a career-high ranking. He also arrived at Wimbledon after winning the Eastbourne title the previous weekend.
Why is Arthur Fery Britain's last singles player?
Fery became the only British player left after Katie Swan, Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski lost in the second round. It is the first time since 2018 that only one Briton has reached the third round across both singles draws.
What happens if Arthur Fery beats Zizou Bergs?
Fery would reach the Wimbledon fourth round and break into the world's top 100 for the first time. The reports also say he would become British number two.
Why is the Fery vs Bergs match on Court 18?
Wimbledon said Fery likes Court 18 and that returning him there fitted overall scheduling considerations. He had already beaten Otto Virtanen on the same court in the previous round.
Resources
Sources and references cited in this article.