The summer of the underdog: why outsiders are the most compelling sights in sport | Natalie Tan

This opinion piece highlights a summer of underdog stories in sport, focusing on Arthur Fery, who became the lowest-ranked player (114th) to reach a Wimbledon semi-final before losing to Alexander Zverev, and Maja Chwalinska, also ranked 114th, who made a remarkable run at the French Open as a qualifier and reached the final — only the second qualifier ever to do so in the Open Era. Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha also captured attention during the FIFA World Cup, where the four remaining teams are all top-ranked sides. The article argues that such unexpected stories have made the past two months particularly compelling for sports fans.