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BBC pundit Annabel Croft believes a humble decision by Arthur Fery's mum reveals much about the Wimbledon semi-finalist's personality. The 23-year-old takes on French Open champion Alexander Zverev at the All England Club on Friday.

Fery has enjoyed a stunning run at the Grand Slam, having entered as a wildcard. Growing up in Wimbledon, the British player has exceeded expectations, given his No. 114 world ranking, to reach the semi-finals and now stands just one victory away from a major final. This represents uncharted waters for the 23-year-old, but Fery looked entirely composed under pressure during his Wimbledon quarter-final encounter. He secured a straight-sets triumph over ninth seed Flavio Cobolli to extend his extraordinary campaign. While the sudden spotlight on him could affect Fery, former British No. 1 Croft remains confident the British talent will keep his feet firmly on the ground.

The 59-year-old pundit revealed that Fery's mother Olivia had declined a spot in the coaching box at Wimbledon, preferring to stay away from the limelight and Croft believes this shows the young tennis player's true colours.

"I was sitting a few rows away from Fery's mother, Olivia, in the members' seats on Centre Court," Croft wrote for The Times. "She wasn't in the coaching box.

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"Steffi Graf's mother was the same. She never wanted the attention, and I thought that was really sweet.

"Fery is probably very grounded like that too, and that's helped him to take everything in his stride."

Fery's mother Olivia is a former professional tennis player who claimed two ITF titles during her career, competing under her maiden name Gravereaux. Born to French parents, Arthur's family relocated to England when he was just one month old and the Wimbledon star has spoken candidly about his dual nationality.

"I feel very British. I live here. All my best friends live here. I went to school here, I train here," Fery explained.

"Obviously my parents are still French and we speak French with my cousins and my family who still live in France. But my roots are very much tied to London now.

"I've now lived here a long time. Maybe 10 years ago I'd have said I felt more French than English but now that's not the case at all."

Fery will be hoping to become the first British Wimbledon champion since Andy Murray in 2016. He takes on Zverev for the first time in his career, while Novak Djokovic and Jannik Sinner contest the other semi-final.