Cancer survivor Ryan Peniston savours 'dream' run at Queen's after overcoming Francisco Cerundolo
Late blooming left-hander Ryan Peniston said he was enjoying the best week of his life after scoring a second unlikely win at Queen’s Club and thus keeping British interest alive into the quarter-finals.
Having taken out the recent French Open finalist and world No 5 Casper Ruud on Tuesday, Peniston found himself up against another clay-court specialist in Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.
There was fervent home support for Peniston, a 26-year-old who has developed into a fine athlete despite a childhood battle with a rare form of cancer. He rode the wave brilliantly as he came back from a break down in the deciding set to win with a devastating forehand up the line.
Tournament organisers were certainly thanking their stars, for the early exits of British seeds Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans – plus the stomach injury that ruled out Andy Murray last week – had left them dangerously short of local interest.
“It's been a rollercoaster so far,” said Peniston. “Pretty much like a dream. I can't really think of anything that tops it. I didn't really envision myself being the last Brit and honestly we have such good players in Britain. But now that I am, I’m taking that confidence and just trying to keep it rolling.”
Peniston made such a fast start, claiming the opening set in just 23 minutes without dropping a game, that it seemed he would breeze through in no time. At this stage, Cerundolo was playing like a true Argentine. Like a man, in other words, who believes that grass is for grazing your cows on.
But Peniston’s intensity dropped in the second set, which allowed Cerundolo to make inroads with his one major asset – a devastating forehand, which often approaches the 100mph mark.
It was only at the last minute, when threatened with imminent expulsion, that the languid Peniston found another injection of energy. Casting his mind back to his first-set exploits, he once again started harrying Cerundolo away from that comfort zone in the middle of the court. For a man ranked No 180, Peniston handles the pressure points remarkably well.
Peniston is the first notable player to emerge from Southend since the Lloyd brothers – John, David and Tony – who were such a big part of British tennis in the 1970s and 80s. In fact, he was given some early tips by their father Dennis when he trained at Westcliff Tennis Club.
Asked who had particularly inspired him on the modern tour, Peniston replied “It has to be Rafa for me. I was in Australia at the start of this year, and went to a locker room and turning round just behind me Rafa was walking in as well. It was a bit of a shock – it’s Rafa! – but it was definitely a cool experience to be around the same environment.
“As you go up the levels in tennis you see the top guys and girls more and more so you get used to it a little bit,” added Peniston. “But the first time, you’re kind of nervous around them, they are such big idols.”
Peniston’s unexpected run will continue on Friday against Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic, who overcame Sam Querrey in three sets. Meanwhile, in Birmingham, Katie Boulter will face the former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep for a place in the semi-finals.
