Arthur Fery defied persistent nosebleeds to win a five-set epic against Zizou Bergs and reach the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time.
The 23-year-old wildcard needed treatment three times for the problem, which has dogged him throughout the tournament, while he was 4-1 down in the fourth and fifth sets.
But Fery showed huge courage and belief to fight back both times before claiming a 2-6, 7-5, 2-6, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (5) victory after four hours and 38 minutes.
It was the first five-set win of Fery’s career and he becomes only the second British wildcard to reach the last 16 at a grand slam after Andrew Foster here in 1993
Carrying the hopes of the home country as the only singles player to make the last 32, Fery kept his cool impressively throughout, although the nosebleed-related breaks were tough on Bergs, especially one during the 10th game of the deciding set.
Usually players are only allowed to take one medical timeout for a single condition, but blood is an exception that requires immediate intervention.
Fery will seek medical treatment after the tournament that it is hoped will cure the problem, which has become an increasing issue during the grass-court season.
Fery said: “It’s unreal. Four hours 40 with that support, it’s unbelievable. I requested to play on this court because it’s awesome. I had a great time on it in the second round and this trumps it but I got so much support.”
Eyebrows were raised initially when the match was scheduled on the relatively small Court 18, where Fery defeated Otto Virtanen in round two.
Fery was born in France and has French parents but grew up only 10 minutes from the All England Club. He would have settled for an unseeded opponent in his first grand slam third round but Bergs, named after French footballer Zinedine Zidane, was hardly a pushover having just won his first ATP Tour title at Eastbourne to climb to a career-high ranking of 37.
Bergs dominated the opening set, with Fery’s first nosebleed occurring after four games, but the young British player turned things around in the second set, helped by some ill-timed double faults from his opponent.
Fery appeared to have the momentum going into the crucial third but Bergs stepped up again with a run of five games in a row and seemed in complete control leading 4-1 in the third with a double break.
Fery appeared to be tiring but, spurred on by the home crowd, he fought back to force a tiebreak which he won in style, whipping a forehand winner down the line on the run and then making a backhand volley at full stretch.
Fery’s second nosebleed came during a break of more than 15 minutes, with both players heading off court to change their clothes, while Bergs also took a timeout for blister treatment.
Fery struggled to regain his physical intensity and Bergs once again moved to the brink of victory only to stumble.
It was clear heading into the tiebreak that Fery, roared on by the home crowd, was the player who believed this was his moment, and so it proved.
