British number five Arthur Fery produced a superb display to beat Adrian Mannarino and 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, who was ranked 461 when he upset 20th seed Alexei Popyrin on the opening day of last year’s Wimbledon, was the last Briton left in singles after Cameron Norrie lost to fourth seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina on Tuesday.
“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, but I always try to put my best foot forward every match and try to improve.”
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 opening 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 bleeding, Fery maintained his standards in the second set and broke Mannarino in the ninth game with a blistering forehand.
Fery, who beat fellow Briton Toby Samuel in the first round, then held his serve to complete victory.
He will face either seventh seed Francisco Cerundolo or Jenson Brooksby in the last eight.
Former British number one John Lloyd, commentating on the match for the BBC, was impressed by Fery’s 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.”
Meanwhile, top seed Alex de Minaur of Australia secured his place in the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-1 win over Canada’s Denis Shapovalov.
