Wimbledon breakout star Arthur Fery has opened up his nationality and insisted he feels ‘very British’.
Fery, 23, has had an incredible run at SW19 over the past few weeks, reaching the semi-finals despite being a wildcard for the tournament.
It caps a remarkable rise for the British star, who was born in France to French parents, given he was ranked as world No 114 before the action got underway.
Fery moved to Wimbledon at a young age and although he went to university in the USA, he was educated nearby and trains in London.
His subsequent run at the All England Club has led to some in the French media claiming the 23-year-old as their ‘last remaining hope’ given his dual nationality and family ties to France.
However, when pressed on which country he feels closer to after his quarter-final victory over Flavio Cobolli, Fery was clear in his response.
Wimbledon homegrown breakout star Arthur Fery, 23, has insisted he feels ‘very British’
Fery was born in France to French parents (pictured – dad Loic, left, a successful businessman)
‘In regards to the French, I mean honestly less and less these days,’ he told reporters.
‘I’ve now lived here a long time, 10 years ago I may have said I felt more French than English but now it’s not the case at all.
‘I feel very British, I live here, all my best friends live here, I went to school here, I train here.
‘My parents are still French so we speak French with my family and cousins who still live in France. But no, my roots are very much tied to London now.’
Fery did represent France at Under-12 level, with his mother Olivia also a former professional tennis player.
She played in the 1991 French Open and represented her country in the tournament now known as the Billie Jean King Cup.
His father, Loic, is one of the wealthiest men in France having worked as a private investor and hedge fund manager.
In 2023, his net worth was valued at €320million (£272m) and he previously owned football team FC Lorient.
Fery is in the Wimbledon semi-finals despite having entered the tournament as a wildcard
Meanwhile, speaking previously about his choice to represent Great Britain, Fery insisted there was ‘no decision to make’ given where he had honed his craft.
‘I was in the system here,’ he said. ‘There was really no question.’
His father previously added: ‘He’s a true Wimbledon boy. It’s like someone who grew up in Boulogne playing at Roland Garros.
‘He went to school five minutes from here. He’s always lived here. He started playing tennis on the courts next door. Naturally, that adds to the emotion.’
