THE CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 28, 2022

Ryan Peniston

Press Conference

R. PENISTON/H. Laaksonen

6-4, 6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Ryan, great win today. How are you feeling?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, feeling very good. Yeah, really happy with the win. For the first match at Wimbledon, main draw match, couldn't have had any better, couldn't have gone any better, to be honest, yeah.

THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.

Q. You've had a month of which many people would be struggling to get their heads around. Are you still pinching yourself? Is it starting to feel really real now?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, to be honest, I was chatting with my coach, Mark Taylor, like yesterday. I was kind of saying I'm waiting for someone to pinch me and wake up kind of back in May sometime (smiling).

No, yeah, just loving every second of it, to be honest.

Q. Were members of your family here to watch you today?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah. My family were able to come, which was really nice.

Q. The roar when you won the final point sort of summed up the way you played the match. He had a lot of power, but you were sticking in points. Almost as if you were going to win the match by refusing to give in. Was that the game plan, try to draw the mistakes out of him?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, hundred percent. I mean, he's got a lot of firepower. He can hit winners from anywhere on the court. Yeah, my game, I like to stick in there and fight. Yeah, exactly fight every point. That's what I did today.

Yeah, it worked.

Q. Main draw slam debut for you. Finished in two hours. Was that a goal of yours, to try to get it done basically?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, I mean, it was my first-ever five-set match, so I was kind of preparing to play five sets. But obviously I've never done it in a real match. Yeah, I couldn't really prepare myself.

But just managed to, yeah, fight every point. The fact I was able to get it done in three sets, yeah, I'm really, really happy with.

Q. You probably think it's all quite normal this, but 12 British players playing today is quite unusual. All through this grass court run for you, there's been a lot of British success. How important is that or how much has that helped you as you've had your own success?

RYAN PENISTON: Hugely. I think, yeah, British tennis right now is an amazing environment. We're all pushing each other every day, whether it's in training or at tournaments. Then, yeah, when we get to come home to England and play all in the same tournaments, it's even better. We see each other after wins, say, Congratulations. Even after losses say, Tough luck.

It's a really nice atmosphere at the moment.

Q. When you hear that crowd behind you, it's going well, do you manage to use that and make sure that you don't get carried away by it and lose focus?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, I think it's finding the balance is really important 'cause if you get too riled up by it, you can kind of go out, lose your energy, lose steam.

Yeah, you have to use it, as well, the positive sides. You have to look for it. Especially when you're feeling a bit nervous or you're on a little bit of a losing streak, you can bounce off them for sure, and they can give you that energy that you need.

But it definitely makes it a lot of fun out there (smiling). It's better to play in front of 2,000 people than 10, for sure.

Q. Are you talking to yourself during the match along those lines? You must be saying, This is fantastic.

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, yeah, definitely. Some points in the match you kind of have to just look around a little bit and see your friends and family there, as well. Everyone, they're just having a great time. Yeah, it's special.

Q. I think you alluded to the camaraderie amongst some of the British players. Did I hear you might be looking to get a pad in London with Alastair?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, I don't know where you've heard that from, but that's pretty accurate information (laughter).

Me and Ali, yeah, we're great friends. Yeah, it would be cool if we could find a place around this area to stay. It would be awesome.

But, no, we're definitely looking for that.

Q. You might have to win it to get a place in this area.

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah (laughter). Especially in these times, yeah. I think I might have to, yeah.

Q. You took some notes out of your bag and were reading them at changeover. Was that purely tactical stuff or inspirational messages?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, that's something I've added to my kind of routine during matches. I have a little piece of paper with some points on it I like to focus on. It just helps me, yeah, exactly, focus during tense moments. I find it really useful.

So, yeah, when I was about to serve the set out, it's a really good time to use it. Yeah, I felt like it worked pretty well.

Q. What kind stuff is it? Tactical? Where does it come from?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, I'm not going to get into too much detail and give secrets away (smiling).

It's more, you know, just mental points and focus points, things that make me feel positive, things to focus on.

Q. You spoke a couple weeks ago about what it was like in Australia, seeing people like Rafa in the locker room. Have you had any encounters like that here? Is it a bit different because the run you've had, more people know you? Do more people say hi?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, I'd say a little bit. A little bit different. Definitely, yeah, get to know a few more of the players. They're all nice.

Yeah, I definitely have had more of those moments. Like, yeah, Rafa, all the other top guys, the legends. They're just going around doing their business, doing their thing. It's pretty humbling to be in the same kind of facility, same environment as them.

Q. I spoke to you a couple days ago. You made an emphasis on the fact that you battled cancer at the age of one. How does it feel now to have overcome that, to now being at Wimbledon and winning in the first round in front of your family and the fans?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, it's really hard to explain how it feels. It's been such a journey, a long journey, and difficult. But, yeah, super rewarding.

Yeah, I think after the tournament, I'm definitely going to celebrate with my family, and we'll have a nice time together, for sure. Yeah, I think it's been unexplainable, kind of the feelings that I have, thinking about the past times and where I've been able to get to now.

Q. As a tennis player and as a man today, what impact did that battle have on you as a person?

RYAN PENISTON: Sorry?

Q. The battle with cancer from being a baby, what kind of impact or lasting impact has that had on you today as a man and player?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, huge impact for me. It's such a terrible thing to go through, especially for my family, my close friends. But, yeah, huge impact. It gives me so much strength.

I've had some really, really nice messages from some foundations and people as well, like families that have gone through similar stuff.

It's really special to receive those kind of messages. It puts everything into perspective really.

Q. I think your mother said about it stunting your growth at some point. Is that correct? How did that impact you as a player physically?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, it definitely affected my growth. I was a really late bloomer. I didn't start growing until 14, 15. No, even later, 15, 16. I was always about a foot smaller than all my peers. They all were growing and getting bigger serves and everything. I was struggling just trying to run around and get the balls.

Yeah, it made me definitely tougher as a player and a person I think. Yeah, it's a blessing in disguise really.

Q. It's been a journey for yourself. Were you always confident you were going to get here? You've worked so hard for so many years. Did you always have that belief you would finally get here at some point in your career?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, I think it's more belief than confidence. Just every day in training I just thought about it and kind of visualized it. Even off the court as well, I'd be just like dreaming about it.

Yeah, for it to happen just is crazy for me. When I was younger, like a teenager, you always have people ask, You play tennis. I'll see you at Wimbledon one day. I'd always say, Yeah, yeah, hopefully, hopefully. Yeah, now to just say it's happened is unbelievable.

Q. The Southend fan club, I don't know if you heard them, but how much did that help you during the match?

RYAN PENISTON: I definitely heard them during the match. I kind of had to focus because otherwise I start getting like pumped up with them. Yeah, definitely after the match it was really nice to hear them shouting 'Seasiders'. That was nice.

Q. Court 12, a great experience. Have you had a thought about where you may play the second round? What do you know about the next chap you're playing in the next round?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, it was an amazing experience. Such a nice court to play on. I couldn't complain about any court at Wimbledon to play on, to be honest. You could put me on the practice courts, I'd still love it (smiling).

Yeah, I was preparing to play on Court 3 yesterday, which is a big court. Yeah, it kind of all goes into one when there's a lot of people shouting and stuff. You just have to keep focus.

Hopefully I'll get the chance to play on a big court as well in the next round.

Q. Do you know much about the American you're playing in the next round?

RYAN PENISTON: Yeah, sure, I've seen a lot of his matches. Yeah, he can be tricky. He's a great player. Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to the challenge.

Q. If they put you on, let's say, Court 1, how difficult, how big a part of your mental buildup will that be?

RYAN PENISTON: I think I'm just going to try to treat it the same, to be honest. I was lucky enough to play Centre Court at Queen's a few times. That was just, yeah, an amazing experience. I think I'm just going to try and keep it very similar to that.