Arthur Fery’s multi-millionaire dad speaks out on Wimbledon run after gaining new status | Tennis | Sport

Arthur Fery’s father, Loic, is a well-known figure in sports. A multi-millionaire with a reported net worth of around £275m (€320m), Fery Senior is president of Ligue 1 side FC Lorient, which he used to own, and a notable name in France.

But the Lorient president is now better known as ‘Arthur’s dad’, as his son, the world No. 114 who received a wildcard into Wimbledon, has stormed into the semi-finals. It’s been a dream run for Fery, who was born in France but moved to the UK as an infant and lives minutes from the All England Club.

Loic, a hedge-fund owner, has been supporting his son from his box throughout the tournament and will no doubt be in the stands again when Fery faces No. 2 seed and recent French Open champion Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals.

And the proud father is happy to be known for Fery’s sensational run. “It’s primarily about his journey. He’s progressing in his tennis development, his career. That comes from experience,” Loic told L’Equipe earlier this week.

“He arrived with more experience, more to his name. He’s still a young player who’s learning, but thanks to his performances, he’s starting to gain considerable recognition in France and England.

“He deserves what’s happening to him. He grew up five minutes from here. It won’t change who he is, but it means a lot. He’s a very level-headed person. He does things without getting carried away, step by step. He’s focused on his goal.

“He’s progressing very well. But we can’t make unrealistic plans. There’s a huge gap in world tennis. The initial goal was to be among the top 100 to be able to play in the Grand Slams. He’ll have reached that milestone after the tournament.”

Fery has shattered that goal and will crack the top 40 after this tournament. Not only will he receive direct entry into the world’s biggest tournaments, he could well be seeded at the Grand Slams with a few more points.

And Loic added: “The pressure has never been on him. He’s always been the underdog. This is his path. He’s calm, serene, and aware of his strengths. When he was down two sets to one, two breaks down [in the third round], I can tell you that a lot of people left the stadium. We believed in it because with him, as long as there is a chance, he will never stop believing that it is possible.”

The FC Lorient president says he’s cheering just as loud as he did during Fery’s junior days, but he knows that his son and team can take the reigns. “I’m just as proud today as I was when I used to go watch him play when he was four or six years old,” he explained.

“I experience all of this like a dad going to watch his son at the sidelines for a Sunday match. It’s first and foremost his project. And everyone who plays high-level sports knows that it’s earned, that it requires a lot of work, a lot of sacrifices.

“The whole family is very proud of him. I try to be calm. He really likes peace and quiet, being in his own little world. His coach also brings him that serenity. There are people who need to be roused. Not him. Today, all of this belongs to him. He’s often been called ‘the son of’. I’m thrilled to become ‘the father of’.”

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