WIMBLEDON — The most impressive feat from Arthur Fery off-court this week was in the media room on Monday night, when he seamlessly swapped English for French to field further questions.
It was rare to see a Briton do this, but just as Emma Raducanu spoke Mandarin here four years ago, it was a reminder of what modern Britain actually looks like.
Not everyone can handle that, and while wildcard Fery’s journey to the Wimbledon semi-finals has surprised everyone, some of the reaction has been nauseatingly predictable.
Boy what a miserable existence it must be, sitting in a huff questioning someone’s heritage while the majority of this country revel in another fairy-tale British story.
For those who said “yeah but” after New Zealand-born Ben Stokes hit an unbeaten 135 at Headingley, or “yeah but” after Somalia-born Sir Mo Farah crossed the line for any of his four Olympic golds, or “yeah but” when Canada-born Raducanu won an unprecedented US Open title, Fery is just another sports star for that xenophobic brigade to belittle.
Fery was born in the suburbs of Paris. His parents are French, with his mother Olivia a former tennis pro and his father Loic an investment manager who recently sold French Ligue 1 side Lorient but remains the club’s president. So sure, that makes him French.
HE’S ONLY GONE AND DONE ITArthur Fery, the British wildcard, is into the semi-finals of Wimbledon! pic.twitter.com/UkDWWZb8xc
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 8, 2026The Fery family then moved to Wimbledon when Arthur was one month old, meaning he spent 99.5 per cent of his childhood growing up in London. He attended King’s College School, and first learned to play tennis a mile away from Centre Court. So yes, that makes him British.
French and British. Dual nationality. Somehow, it is still difficult for some to comprehend, even though the concept of being solely British is as mythical as King Arthur himself. Migration is woven into this country’s tapestry, and few are able to trace their ancestry back for generations within the lines of this island alone.
Fery even chose to represent Britain, having briefly played for France around the age of 10, which alone is testament to the opportunities offered by British tennis and the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA).
“By that point, there was really no decision to make,” Fery said. “I was living here, I was training at the National Tennis Centre. I was in the system here.
“I feel completely British now. Maybe 10 years ago if you’d asked me the question, it would be a bit different. Now I feel very British at heart.”
Olivia Fery watches on at Wimbledon (Photo: PA)For some that will never be enough, and as Fery prepares for the match of his life, two days after winning the previous match of his life, those bashing keyboards in basements – quite possibly hoping their dear leader doesn’t lose a by-election to a bin this summer – will continue to disown him.
They will continue to insult and deny his Britishness, just as Raducanu, Greg Rusedski and Johanna Konta in the tennis world alone have had to contend with.
Even Andy Murray wrestled with this nationalism. British when he won, Scottish when he lost, was the way it usually went. A tiresome cycle.
The higher our sport stars climb, the more desperate some become to point out certain peculiarities. Search any post from BBC Sport or Wimbledon about Arthur Fery in the past 24 hours and you will discover that for yourself.
“He has a French surname. The blokes parents are French. He was born in France. How is he now playing tennis as a British person??”
“He is FRENCH ffs! If I get a Japanese passport am I Japanese?”
“Immigrants get a passport and immediately call themselves British. It’s a joke.”
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James Gray: How Arthur Fery stayed humble growing up despite millionaire father Michael Hincks: The BBC is trying to prove Andy Murray wrong – and failing“He will never be British despite having British citizenship.”
“He was born in France to French parents, and played for France until he was about 12. He’s a Frog.”
As night follows day, derision follows success. Jealousy, as ever, plays a part, and to those unable to board the Fery-mania this week simply because of where he was born, the rest of us feel sorry for you.
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