British number five Arthur Fery recorded the “best result” of his career as he beat Adrian Mannarino to keep home hopes alive in the HSBC Championships at Queen’s.
The world number 140 reached his first ATP Tour quarter-final with a 7-6 (9-7) 6-4 victory over the veteran Frenchman.
The 23-year-old wildcard needed treatment for a nosebleed at the start of the second set but kept his focus to wrap up victory on Andy Murray Arena.
Fery was ranked 461 when he upset 20th seed Alexei Popyrin on the opening day of last year’s Wimbledon, but said his win over Mannarino was better.
“It’s special to be playing in London where I grew up and in front of all these British tennis fans,” the British number five told BBC Sport.
“This is the best result of my career so far. It’s not been easy, there have been lots of ups and downs so I’m happy to get through.”
He was the last Briton left in singles after Cameron Norrie lost to fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday.
Asked about having to cope with a nosebleed, Fery said: “It happens to me quite often. I’m used to it.
“I don’t really know why it happens. Maybe nerves. Sometimes tiredness, the heat. I don’t know. It happens here and there.”
Fery, who beat fellow Briton Toby Samuel in the first round, will face seventh seed Francisco Cerundolo on Friday after the Argentine demolished American Jenson Brooksby in straight sets.
‘I see no reason why Fery can’t be top 50’
Former British number one John Lloyd, commentating on Fery’s match for the BBC, was impressed by the performance.
“I see no reason why he can’t be top 50,” he said.
“He’s quick, nasty to play against, he moves well, isn’t afraid to change it up with the slice, and he likes the big stage.”
Fery started confidently by breaking Mannarino’s serve at the first attempt but the 37-year-old Frenchman fought back from 3-0 down to take the set to a tie-break.
An eye-catching cross-court backhand pass and two superb volleys at full stretch – celebrated with a crowd-energising fist-pump – helped Fery move to set point.
World number 44 Mannarino saved it but Fery kept his nerve to force an error that secured the set.
After a medical timeout to stop his nose bleed, Fery maintained his standards in an entertaining second set. He broke Mannarino in the ninth game with a blistering forehand and then held his serve to complete victory.
Meanwhile, top seed Alex de Minaur of Australia secured his place in the quarter-finals with a straightforward 6-4 6-1 victory over Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
De Minaur will play American world number 32 Brandon Nakashima in the last eight.
Wednesday’s round-up
Elsewhere, seeds Daniil Medvedev, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime all reached the quarter-finals of the Halle Open in Germany.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka reached the last eight of the Berlin Open but fifth seed Coco Gauff lost in three sets to Spain’s Paula Badosa and Croatia’s Donna Vekic, who was crowned Queen’s champion on Sunday, was beaten by Alexandra Eala in straight sets.
Third seed Emma Navarro won her last-16 match against Yuliia Starodubtseva at the Nottingham Open in three sets.
Britain’s Hannah Klugman, the 17-year-old world number 509, plays fourth seed Marie Bouzkova on Thursday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Jay Clarke, Jacob Fearnley, Felix Gill all lost in the second round of the men’s Challenger event at Nottingham, with Billy Harris the only Briton to progress.
- Norrie beaten at Queen’s on injury return
- Live scores, results and order of play
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