Arthur Ferry, the 23-year-old British wildcard who was unknown to anyone outside tennis clubs until two weeks ago, now finds himself on first-name terms with the Queen and a regular on Center Court after making his way to the Wimbledon semi-finals.
As we’ve watched Ferry win time and time again, one thing has stood out: those impressive legs. He stands at five feet seven inches—one of the smallest players in the tournament—yet he generates a lot of power from the baseline. Could it have something to do with thigh muscles?
Despite a career-high ATP singles ranking of world number 114, the current British number three is set to break into the world top 40, and in the two weeks since he has become the country’s most promising hope since Andy Murray succumbed to all those hip injuries.
Before Ferri stares down Alexander Zverev in front of SW19’s rowdy crowd on Center Court, we asked some of Britain’s tennis coaches how beneficial Ferri’s bulging quad muscles could be, and how you can get the look yourself.
Why are thigh muscles useful in tennis?
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 08: Arthur Ferry of Great Britain greets the fans after defeating Flavio Coboli of Italy during his Gentlemen’s Singles quarterfinal match on day 10 of the Championships Wimbledon 2026 at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 8, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Visionhaus/Getty Images)Visionhaus/Getty Images
“The thighs are composed primarily of the quadriceps on the front of the leg, the hamstrings on the back, and the adductors on the inside of the thigh,” says Sam JonesNumber two men’s paddle player and ambassador in the UK Seed. “I grew up playing with a lot of tennis players, and in all racquet sports, these muscle groups are incredibly important because they generate power, stability and speed.”
Breaking it down further: The quadriceps helps players accelerate, decelerate, and drive upward during serves and groundstrokes. The hamstrings play an important role in running, changing direction, and protecting the knee joint, while the adductors are important for lateral movement when covering the court.
“Tennis is basically a series of explosive movements in multiple directions, so stronger legs allow players to move more efficiently, stay balanced, and maintain power during long matches,” says Jones.
“I once heard a former player say that 90% of the power in a serve comes from your legs,” says Christopher Marshall, the first coach of current British No. 5 Francesca Jones. Marshall also runs Young Champs UK The charity, which aims to get kids from all backgrounds swinging racquets. While Marshall estimates the actual number is likely higher than 50%, the point still stands—especially at Wimbledon.