Peniston keeps GB flag flying

FROM an entry of seven British players into the Cinch Championships, few would have expected Ryan Peniston to emerge as the standard bearer.

Yet the 26-year-old world No 180 is in the quarter-finals after being roared to victory by the usually sedate crowd at Queen’s Club. The British No 7 defeated Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo, ranked 136 places higher, 6-0, 4-6, 6-4 to follow up his win over French Open finalist Casper Ruud.

The left-hander hails from Southend — the same territory as the illustrious Lloyd brothers — and has arrived via an academy in Nice and the University of Memphis.

‘I don’t want to wake up from this any time soon,’ he said, after soaking up the acclaim of the 9,500-capacity main court, not the kind of arena he is used to on the Challenger circuit. Already granted a main draw wildcard for Wimbledon the week after next, he will face Serbia’s Filip Krajinovic this afternoon for a place in the semi-finals.

Peniston came from a break down in the deciding set and won it with a stupendous forehand return winner at the first time of asking, reeling off the last four games.