Arthur Fery’s Wimbledon run finally ended by ruthless Alexander Zverev

CENTRE COURT – Germans have a rich history in fairytales and on Friday an unrelenting Alexander Zverev wrote the final chapter of Arthur Fery’s Wimbledon run. The sense that this semi-final was an insurmountable task for Fery was initially challenged, but following an emphatic 7-0 tie-break in the first set, Zverev raced into his first Wimbledon final 7-6 6-2 6-4. Jannik Sinner awaits the French Open champion on Sunday, while Fery departs his breakthrough grand slam as British tennis’s newest household name. The 23-year-old will become the new British No 1 on Monday, breaking into the top 40, and qualifies directly for the main US Open draw as well – making this, hopefully, just the start. But there would be no shot at entering Wimbledon folklore, no joining Andy Murray, Ann Jones and Virginia Wade on the short list of Britons who have reached a Wimbledon singles final in the Open Era. Alexander Zverev reached his first Wimbledon final (Photo: PA) It cost at least £215 to catch this Fery live on Centre Court and most of the 15,000-strong crowd were hoping to witness an upset for the ages. The world No 114 against the world No 3. Fery with zero titles to Zverev’s 25. And arriving at Wimbledon, £660,000 in career prize money versus a cool £49.2m. Fery has more than doubled his lifetime earnings with this run, but his priority on Friday was following in Goran Ivanisevic’s footsteps: he was the 2001 Wimbledon champion, the only men’s wildcard to ever reach a grand slam final. His greatest strength this week has been a cool demeanour in the heat of Centre Court, the 23-year-old unfazed despite having only made his debut here on Monday. He would need that again in just his second match against a top-five player, and even when an early break down, Fery stayed calm and quickly responded in kind, bringing the crowd to their feet after some gutsy defence and a sliding backhand winner to break back. Quick service games followed and the opening set tie-break felt far more crucial to Fery’s prospects than his opponent’s. Zverev, however, found another level, winning it a resounding 7-0. Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch and playwright Sophie Hunter were among the stars in the Royal Box (Photo: PA) Now for a real test of Fery’s mettle. He had lost the opening set in the opening three rounds and trailed 2-1 in sets twice at these championships, but none of those matches were against grand slam champions. Zverev would not let up. He is a divisive player and also decisive now the major monkey is off his back, and with the fastest average first and second serve at these championships, he should prove more than a match for Sinner. He certainly had Fery’s number. After swiftly taking the second set, Zverev closed out the third after two hours and 13 minutes of play. With Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman among the stars watching on, this was an elementary win. Read more Ben Rothenberg: I’m American – here are the seven most painfully English things about Wimbledon Michael Hincks: Questions about Arthur Fery’s Britishness are ignorant and small-minded