Arthur Fery Storms into Wimbledon Semi-Finals After Surprise Tunnel Visit from Queen Camilla!

MINUTES BEFORE walking on to Centre Court for the match of his life, Arthur Fery was shocked to find himself come face-to-face with the Queen.

As the players were waiting for their cue, Camilla snuck up behind him, on her way up to the Royal Box, and made a beeline for the new hero of British tennis.

Arthur Fery is enjoying a miracle run in SW19 Credit: EPA Queen Camilla watched on as Fery performed his magic Credit: Getty

There was not much time for a bow of the head – just a quick handshake, a short good luck message, and then she went upstairs to the VIP seats.

If Fery had been nervous before his maiden Wimbledon quarter-final, then goodness knows how he felt after that shock introduction in the bowels of the stadium.

Yet it was apt that the Queen was here on this hot and stuffy day at Wimbledon – because the way Fery is playing right now, who would bet against the coronation of King Arthur this weekend?

A sensational 6-4 7-6 6-0 victory over No.9 seed Flavio Cobolli, a result that needed perspiration as well as inspiration, moved him into the semi-finals in his fourth tournament appearance.

Not only has he earned a whopping £900,000 in prize money as the first male wildcard to get this far since 2001 champion Goran Ivanisevic.

But this triumph puts him TWO wins away from the most incredible tennis Slam success since Emma Raducanu was crowned Queen of New York five years ago.

The stakes are higher now and he will continue to be the underdog whoever he faces but the way he coped with Cobolli, the manner in which he performed, shows he will not be a pushover.

With the temperature on court close to 36 degrees, this was similar to the conditions in Melbourne in January – where Fery managed to beat Cobolli in three sets, at the Australian Open, his first win at a foreign Slam.

Under a roasting sun, there was no hiding place out there, little shade for the tennis aces, little respite from the heat.

Drinks were a necessity in this type of weather but some in the crowd indulged a bit too much and the sound of a champagne cork played a huge role in the first set.

Cobolli, 24, lost his focus while he was serving at a key point in game ten as the top of a bottle was let off, its sound echoing around the arena.

The culprit should have waited but in typical Wimbledon fashion, the umpire asked politely: “Enjoy your drinks, but please wait before the end of the point before opening your bottle.”

Fery, his back dripping with sweat, took advantage of Cobolli’s dip in concentration to win the next three points to take the first set.

After the fizz was distractingly opened, right at the arch of his service motion, the No.9 seed produced two unforced errors and a double fault as Fery came from 15-30 down.

Crowd trouble marred the start of set two, too, but this time it was Fery whose head was swayed by the noise of champers as his serve was then broken.

Yet he broke back in game four to level up at 2-2 thanks to a scintillating forehand winner.

Fery was now growing into the match, playing some clever tennis, moving very well in spite of the sticky conditions.

And the world No.114 wrapped up the second-set tie-break due to a lovely drop shot that fooled Cobolli and he was rightly punching the air in delight.

The home support was getting under Cobolli’s skin and after winning one point in set three, he provocatively placed a finger to his ear to try and silence the punters.

Yet Cobolli’s game was falling apart and following three breaks of serve, he was bagelled by an impressive Fery amid incredible scenes.

After a 120mph ace to seal it, Fery dropped to the floor in disbelief.

Emphatic Centre Court tributes were led by Camilla – this was a win, if you like, by Royal Appointment.

One wag even shouted ‘Come On King Arthur.’

If this Fery-tale continues its momentum over the next four days, then the next time he meets a member of the Royal Family it will be the daughter-in-law Kate in Sunday’s final.