Nick Kyrgios named among Arthur Fery’s childhood tennis idols over Federer and Nadal

Nick Kyrgios made the cut as a must-watch star for a rising British player.

Arthur Fery, the 23-year-old Wimbledon wildcard, named Nick Kyrgios and Gael Monfils as his favourite players to watch while growing up. The revelation came in a 2020 interview, long before Fery’s run to the quarter-finals at the 2026 Championships. Fery, who beat Grigor Dimitrov in five sets to reach the last eight, told the Harwich and Manning Tree Standard: **‘I like Kyrgios, I like Monfils, those guys.’** He argued their flair brought fresh energy to tennis, making the sport more entertaining for fans.

Fery, son of FC Lorient president Loic Fery, said Kyrgios and Monfils injected excitement into matches. **‘When Kyrgios is playing, everyone watches,’** he added. Fery contrasted their showmanship with what he saw as a drift toward predictable play among other top names. His comments came as he prepared to face Flavio Cobolli in Wednesday’s quarter-final at SW19.

Fery’s rise at Wimbledon 2026 has drawn comparisons to the showmen he idolised. The Brit, who grew up five minutes from the All England Club, booked his quarter-final spot with a fourth-round fightback against Dimitrov. He admitted the court felt familiar, yet playing there with Federer in the stands added a surreal edge. **‘We’ve got probably the greatest of all time watching in the front row,’** he said after the win.

Fery’s quarter-final clash with Cobolli marks a pivotal moment in his breakthrough run. Kyrgios, meanwhile, remains a polarising figure whose style continues to inspire younger players. With Wimbledon tickets still on sale via Seat Unique, fans can catch Fery’s next match live. The tournament’s mix of tradition and flair keeps drawing eyes-and Kyrgios’s brand of tennis keeps shaping how the next generation views the game.