Wimbledon semi-finals: Djokovic and sinner renew rivalry as Zverev meets surprise package Fery

Friday’s action at Wimbledon features both men’s semi-finals, with a place in Sunday’s championship match on the line. The headline encounter sees seven-time champion Novak Djokovic take on reigning champion Jannik Sinner in what many believe is the tournament’s true final. Earlier in the day, Alexander Zverev faces Britain’s surprise semi-finalist Arthur Fery.

Match preview

Arthur Fery’s remarkable Wimbledon journey has been one of the stories of the tournament. After dropping the opening set of his first-round match against Damir Dzumhur, the British wildcard has gone from strength to strength, producing a dream run that has carried him into a stunning first Grand Slam semi-final.

His path to the last four has included impressive victories over in-form Otto Virtanen and Zizou Bergs, experienced grass-court performer Grigor Dimitrov, and French Open finalist Flavio Cobolli in the quarter-finals.

Born in France, Fery represented his birth country at under-12 level before switching allegiance to Great Britain. He is the first French-born player to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since 2016, while also becoming the first British man to make the last four at the All England Club since Cameron Norrie in 2022.

The 22-year-old has also made history as the first wildcard to reach the Wimbledon semi-finals since Goran Ivanisevic’s unforgettable title-winning campaign in 2001.

Whatever happens against Zverev, Fery has already transformed his career. Having spent much of the season chasing a maiden top-100 ranking, he is now guaranteed to break into the world’s top 50 and currently sits at a career-high No. 36 in the live rankings.

Zverev, meanwhile, arrives with a golden opportunity to reach his first Wimbledon final. The German lifted his maiden Grand Slam title at Roland Garros without facing a top-10 opponent and now finds himself one win away from another major final against a player ranked outside the world’s top 100.

It is, on paper, a favourable draw that could allow Zverev to conserve valuable energy ahead of the final, especially with Djokovic and Sinner expected to battle through a physically demanding showdown later in the day.

Despite being one of the sport’s most accomplished players, grass has traditionally been Zverev’s least productive surface. He has reached only three ATP finals on grass—all in Germany—and is still searching for his first title on the surface. With a rare opportunity against an unseeded opponent in a Grand Slam semi-final, the world No. 3 may never have a better chance to reach his maiden Wimbledon final.