Cobolli ousts de Minaur in straight sets to reach Wimbledon quarters, Fery's fairy tale continues
Flavio Cobolli defeated Alex de Minaur 7-5, 7-6(4), 6-3 on a sweltering Day 8 at Wimbledon, while British wildcard Arthur Fery outlasted Grigor Dimitrov in five sets.
Cobolli's commanding win
Flavio Cobolli produced one of the best performances of his career on grass to dismiss fifth seed Alex de Minaur in straight sets on Court One. The Italian ninth seed broke at 5-5 in the first set and saved a 5-2 deficit in the second before taking the tiebreak 7-4. De Minaur led by a break twice in the third set but could not hold, and two double faults at 3-4 handed Cobolli the decisive break. The match was twice halted when spectators required medical attention in the 30-degree heat.
I think I played one of the best matches, especially on this surface that is always tough to play on. Today I found a way to have a high level for all the match.
De Minaur's devastation
The Australian world No. 6 was left distraught after another Grand Slam quarter-final bid ended in failure. De Minaur, who has reached the last eight at all four majors since 2024 but never advanced further, said he had gone out not to lose rather than to win. He described the loss as "gut wrenching" and admitted to doubting whether he can break through.
It breaks me inside. That's the reality of it. Many, many hours gets put into my craft, and countless years to kind of have moments like these. To not step up to the plate, it's truly gut wrenching.
Accommodation scramble
Cobolli's victory was followed by a familiar off-court problem: his rental had expired and he had nowhere to stay. The 24-year-old joked during his on-court interview that he needed a house, and later revealed his grandfather had found a solution. An Italian family in Wimbledon offered their home for the rest of the week.
My grandfather helped us to find a solution for tonight. An Italian family give us all the house here in Wimbledon, so it's really cool.
Fery's fairy tale continues
British wildcard Arthur Fery, ranked 146th, reached his first Grand Slam quarter-final with a 7-5, 3-6, 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(10-7) victory over Grigor Dimitrov. Fery saved a break point at 4-3 down in the fourth set and won three consecutive games to force a decider. In the fifth-set tiebreak, he clinched the only minibreak at 8-6 before converting his first match point after nearly four hours. Roger Federer watched from the Royal Box.
Fritz and Paolini advance
Taylor Fritz, the seventh seed, needed only 99 minutes to beat Alexander Bublik 7-6(1), 6-4, 6-4 and reach his fourth Wimbledon quarter-final in five years. In the women's draw, Jasmine Paolini ended Alexandra Eala's run 6-4, 4-6, 6-3. The Italian 13th seed, hampered by a foot injury this season, said she was rediscovering her joy for tennis at the All England Club.
