Jarry Matches Grandfather Fillol’s Wimbledon Feat: “I came here with him when I was 10.”
Jarry has etched his name into Wimbledon’s family history books. On Friday, Nicolas Jarry matched his grandfather Jaime Fillol’s best-ever Wimbledon performance by storming into the fourth round, a moment packed with emotion and pride.
It’s more than just tennis for the Chilean. It’s personal.
Jarry’s impressive run continued as he saw off young Brazilian Joao Fonseca in a gripping four-set battle. The contest on Court 2 ended 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (4), pushing Jarry into the same stage his grandfather reached back in 1974.
Nearly fifty years ago, Fillol carved out his own Wimbledon moment. He fought past Frantisek Pala, Julian Ganzabal, and Kim Warwick before falling to Jimmy Connors, who eventually lifted the trophy that year. Now, Jarry walks that same path, carrying the weight of family legacy on his shoulders.
This run hasn’t been a smooth ride. Jarry wasn’t even directly in the main draw. He battled his way through qualifying, stunned eighth seed Holger Rune in a five-set thriller, then comfortably brushed aside American teenager Learner Tien in straight sets.
His victory over Fonseca wasn’t just another match — it was a step into cherished family history.
After the win, Jarry reflected on his deep connection to the tournament.“I came here with him when I was 10 years old and 11,” he shared with a smile. “Since then, I’m in love with this tournament.
So I’m happy to, yeah — every match that I win here makes me stay a couple more days in the tournament, and that makes me very happy. So this is the longest period that I’ve been, and hopefully I can continue playing a little bit more.”
His words captured it all — the joy, the memories, the family bond.
Former world No. 16, Jarry is now preparing for his toughest test yet. On Sunday, he faces home favourite Cameron Norrie, with a coveted quarter-final spot on the line. The British crowd will undoubtedly back their man, but Jarry has already proven he thrives under pressure.
For him, each victory is more than just advancing. It’s about honouring his roots, keeping the family story alive, and writing his own chapter at SW19.
This Wimbledon, Jarry isn’t just playing. He’s living his childhood dream — one round at a time.
