On his big stage debut, Ryan Peniston stuns the top seed to become King of Queen’s.

Ryan Peniston was crowned Queen’s champion after defeating top seed Casper Ruud on his ATP Tour debut.

The 26-year-old admitted that he was living his dream after defeating the French Open runner-up in straight sets and earning a Wimbledon wild card.

“It doesn’t feel real,” the British No.7 said. “Last night I didn’t get much sleep. “I was nervous because it was my first ATP match, and it was also on home soil.” It feels like a dream, and I can’t believe it. I was sitting here four or five years ago, watching this tournament.

Peniston was only included in the draw as a result of Andy Murray’s run to the final in Stuttgart last week.

Peniston survived rhabdomyosarcoma, a soft tissue cancer, as a baby in order to make it this far in life, let alone to centre court here.

“I was one when I went into the hospital and had to have chemotherapy, then surgery, then more chemotherapy,” he explained. “It lasted roughly 18 months.” It was definitely a difficult start to my life, and while I don’t remember much, it must have been a difficult time for my parents and brothers.

“I was never one of the top guys as a teenager, maybe in the top-20,” he added. “However, you have to go out there thinking you have a chance to win, and that’s what I did.”