Unheralded Brits step into Queen’s limelight after Murray withdrawal

For once, it was not Andy Murray grabbing the headlines on court when it came to host nation interest in this year’s Cinch Championships at Queen’s. 

The Scot had a fine run in the Stuttgart Open last week, before losing in the final to last year’s Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini. 

But the effort of reaching his first grass court final for six years took its toll and he withdrew on Monday, citing an abdominal strain, which everyone hopes will not be bad enough to keep him out of Wimbledon. 

Stealing the thunder instead was wildcard Ryan Peniston, who marked his ATP main draw debut by eliminating French Open finalist Casper Ruud in straight sets after two tie-break sets. 

The 26-year-old from Essex is ranked 180th in the world – a fair way below his opponent, who is ranked fifth and was handed the top seeding for these much-loved west London championships. 

“I can’t really believe it. It feels like a dream,” he said after the biggest win of his career, having been a spectator at the championships a few years ago. 

There was also a fabulous win for another British wildcard entrant Jack Draper – 6-3,6-2 over world number 14 American Taylor Fritz.

That also represented his best ever result, although he clearly loves the west London grass courts as he reached the quarter-finals in last year’s breakthrough appearance. 

It was not such a happy first round through for Dan Evans, last year’s finalist Cameron Norrie, or for Liam Broady, who all bowed out against top-class opponents who had all lifted the Queen’s Club title before. 

Evans fell 6-3, 6-3 to reigning champion Berrettini, who also made last year’s Wimbledon final, while Norrie lost to 2014 champion, Grigor Dimitrov despite taking a first set tie-break.

Broady, meanwhile, succumbed to two-times winner Marin Cilic in three. For Cilic, these courts are home from home. He first won the title 10 years ago and defeated Novak Djokovic in the 2018 final.

Also eliminated as the tournament got under way was another British hopeful, Paul Jubb, beaten in three sets by Dutch opponent Botic van de Zandschlup. 

 Picture: Credit: Getty Image for LTA