British wildcard Ryan Peniston was lost for words after stunning top-seeded Casper Ruud at the Queen’s Club for his first ATP victory. In his main draw debut at the Queen’s Club, 26-year-old Peniston created a stunning upset as he defeated French Open runner-up Ruud 7-6 (4) 7-6 (2).
“I can’t really believe it. It feels like a dream,” Peniston said in his on-court interview. “I didn’t get much sleep last night ahead of the match and it doesn’t feel real. Casper is an unreal player, he did so well at Roland Garros, so I knew it was a tough ask.
I think you have to step on the court thinking you have a chance to win and I did that and that is all I could do.”
Peniston edged out Ruud in two tight sets
Peniston put the pressure on Ruud early on but failed to convert any of his four break points in the first game.
After blowing four break points in the first game, Peniston missed out on two break points in the ninth game. Peniston also had a break point in the 11th game but once again failed to realize as Ruud managed to save and take a 6-5 lead.
After saving a total of seven break points, Ruud had a set point on Peniston’s serve in the 12th game. However, Peniston was able to save that set point and send the first set into a tie-break. In the tie-break, Peniston was 0-2 down before winning five points in a row to open a 5-2 lead.
Ruud won two points in a row to cut the deficit to 4-5 but Peniston then won the following two points and managed to win a tight opener. After losing the first set, Ruud claimed the first break of the match in the seventh game and took a 4-3 lead in the second set.
However, Ruud’s lead was short-lived as Peniston broke back in the eighth game and the set eventually went into another tie-break. In the tie-break, Peniston won five consecutive points to take a 5-1 lead, before converting his first match point to clinch the biggest victory of his career.
