Arthur Fery Beats Alexei Popyrin to Reach Wimbledon Third Round After Swan, Fearnley, Choinski Bow Out

Arthur Fery, the 461e mondial, beat Alexei Popyrin, tête de série n°20, 6-4, 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 in four sets at Wimbledon, signing what the French-language report called "la plus belle victoire de sa jeune carrière."

“- Published Arthur Fery is the last British player left standing in the Wimbledon singles as he fought back from a set down to reach the third round, while compatriots Katie Swan, Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski all crashed out”

BBC

At Wimbledon on Thursday, Fery became the last British singles player standing after Katie Swan, Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski all bowed out, and he reached the third round for the first time after beating Finnish qualifier Otto Virtanen in four sets.

BBC

The Guardian described Fery’s Thursday match on court 18 as a four-set defeat of Otto Virtanen, with Fery losing his serve for the only time in the match at 5-6 before suffering a nosebleed shortly afterwards.

Fery then reeled off the next three sets to win 5-7, 7-6 (3), 6-3, 6-3 and set up a third-round meeting with Zizou Bergs, while Sky Sports said the win came in a shade under three hours.

In the Independent’s account, Fery said after his round-one win over Otto Virtanen, "A lot of relief, a lot of pride," as he reached the third round of a grand slam for the first time.

Sky News reported that the Princess of Wales attended the fourth day of Wimbledon, breaking tradition to sit on the outside courts rather than in the royal box, and she was seated beside Tim Henman.

Sky News said Kate later took a seat in Court One beside former world number one Sir Andy Murray to watch Briton Katie Swan face Madison Keys, while ESPN noted that Catherine, Princess of Wales was watching on Court 1 alongside Andy Murray.

DelSur Diario

The Guardian said the Princess of Wales was on a roving mission to follow the fortunes of the British players on Thursday, and it described her presence as she watched Fery reach the third round.

In the Independent’s description, Fery said, "I was locked in," after he did not notice the Princess of Wales emerging onto court, even as the future Queen was flanked by Tim Henman and All England Club chair Debbie Jevans.

For Swan, the Guardian quoted her disappointment after losing to Madison Keys, saying, "I’m disappointed that I couldn’t sneak it into a third set," as she reflected on competing on a court like No 1.

Sky Sports said Arthur Fery kept the flag flying for Britain at Wimbledon as Katie Swan, Jacob Fearnley and Jan Choinski all bowed out at Wimbledon on Thursday.

“Katie Swan's Wimbledon dream came to an end on Thursday as she was beaten in the second round by AmericanMadison Keys6-1, 6-4”

ESPN

The Guardian added that Swan went down in straight sets to Madison Keys, while it also recorded that Jacob Fearnley was defeated by Spain’s Jaume Munar and that Jan Choinski lost in four sets.

LTA’s Wimbledon 2026 results and updates said Fearnley lost out in a close match against Spaniard Jaume Munar 6-4, 7-6(3), 6-4, and it said Choinski lost 4-6, 6-2, 7-5, 6-2.

The same LTA update said Fery’s third-round opponent would be the Lexus Eastbourne Open champion Zizou Bergs, and it framed Fery’s win over Otto Virtanen as a four-set comeback after losing the opener.

With Britain’s singles ranks dwindling to one, Sky Sports described Fery as the last British singles player standing, while the Guardian emphasized that he reached the third round for the first time with a four-set win over Otto Virtanen.