Princess Kate sent a personal message of congratulations to British tennis player Arthur Fery after his impressive performance at Wimbledon.
Fery defeated Flavio Cobolli to secure a place in the men’s singles semi-finals, becoming only the fourth wildcard to reach that stage at a Grand Slam.
Following his victory, the Princess of Wales praised the young player in a message shared on social media.
“A memorable day at Wimbledon. Congratulations to Arthur Fery on becoming the first British wildcard to reach the Gentlemen’s Singles semi-finals in the Open Era,” she wrote. “A fantastic achievement that has inspired so many. Wishing you the best for the next round. C.”
Kate had watched Fery play during her visit to Wimbledon on July 2, although the British star later admitted he had no idea she was in the crowd.
“I didn’t know she was here. I probably would have been a bit more tense if I did,” the French-born player said during a courtside interview.
Fery also thanked British fans for their support, saying it was special to compete in front of a home crowd.
“There is lots of support at home in the UK, so it’s fantastic to play in front of them,” he said. “It’s great to do it for the UK. Selfishly, I am doing it for myself first, but I’m always behind the other players and wishing them success.”
The Princess of Wales is a well-known tennis enthusiast and serves as patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.
