So much sweat seeped down Arthur Fery’s shirt that it exposed the back that is carrying the hopes of a nation upon it.
The 23-year-old wildcard, a local Wimbledon boy, has shocked the tennis world with his performances throughout the fortnight at the All England Club, but this topped the lot.
A stunning straight-sets victory over Flavio Cobolli - 6-4 7-6(4) 6-0 - sees the ‘Ferytale’ continue, as he moves into the last four of this year’s Championships.
He becomes just the second wildcard ever to reach the semi-finals at SW19, following on from Goran Ivanisevic in 2001. The fact that the Croat went on to claim the title that year just plays into the storyline beautifully.
But while Ivanisevic played the villain - ousting home favourites Greg Rusedski and Tim Henman en route to the trophy - Fery is the unlikely hero, emerging from nowhere to suddenly becoming British tennis’ new hotshot.
He already stood apart from his peers when he was just one of two home hopefuls that made it past the opening round.
When fellow US college graduate Jacob Fearnley was felled by Jaume Munar, the French-born Fery had the Wimbledon faithful pinning their prayers on the world No114, who had reached the quarter-finals at Queen’s Club before falling - for a second time in a week - to Juan Manuel Cerundolo at the Eastbourne Open, after the Argentine had stunned Jannik Sinner at Roland-Garros last month.
Standing at just 5’9”, Fery is not exactly built to be a tennis player, not least of all a Grand Slam semi-finalist.
Coming up against Cobolli, towering six inches above him, seemed to be a tall order.
A finalist at the French Open, the Italian’s tail was up after he breezed past fifth seed Alex De Minaur like it was nothing.
But the Fery is not stopping on its voyage, and there was nothing the ninth seed could do as it steamed through him at scintillating speed, needing just over two hours to book his place in the last four, where he will face the man that conquered Cobolli in Paris, Alexander Zverev.
Not once did the Briton look out of place on the sport’s greatest arena. In fact, he was invigorated by it. Scrambling shots that he perhaps would not have been able to dig out at that Challenger in Cap Cana, or finding a crunching first serve break point down in Monza just seemed possible here.
But while it was Fery’s brilliance in his striking, it was his shot selection, showing maturity beyond his tender age, that won him this contest.
He was measured in his play, soaking up pressure from the heavy-hitting Cobolli, whose own error-laden performance will be one that he will want to forget in a hurry.
The first break point for the Brit was his set point, teed up by a double fault from the ninth seed. While it was eventually a Cobolli error that ceded the set, it was Fery’s patience and refusal to miss that proved telling.
This was not plain sailing for Fery. An early break at the start of the second from Cobolli suggested that the winds were changing, with the Italian’s picking up the gusto off both flanks.
While his patience proved a virtue, he showcased his ruthless streak, and that was on display as he crunched a forehand winner to break back at 2-1 in the second, as a tense affair tantalised the raucous Centre Court crowd.
Into the tiebreak we went, and Fery’s willingness to rush the net continued. A smash putaway had him race into a 4-1 lead, and his no-fear mentality won out, stepping inside the baseline to attack the return and force the mistake for a healthy two-set lead. Cue bedlam in the stands.
The third set was something of a fever dream, but at this stage of the Championships, nothing is fiction anymore. This was Fery’s world, and all those on Centre Court, and the thousands watching on Henman Hill and at home were living in it.
Three breaks of serve - practically unheard of in a set of tennis - sped through the third set, as Cobolli aired his frustration, at one point setting his hands on his hips, breathing deeply, and staring at the high heavens as he rued the situation he was in. Fery had just guided an exquisite half-volley winner up and over, which had tickled the sideline against all the odds after a delicious dropshot from the Italian.
The penultimate point of the final game was the proof. Nothing was going to get in Fery’s way. Cobolli’s ship had sailed, but the Briton’s was well on-course. Even a net cord and slip could not catch the wildcard out, as he somehow got a racquet to the ball to guide over and tee up match point.
An ace out wide and Fery’s sweat-drenched back met the hallowed All England Club turf. Sometimes the impossible can just feel inevitable.
