ANDY'S TOP DRAWER

Ryan can't wait to crash legend's party

- MATTHEW DUNN

RYAN PENISTON said he nearly crashed his car when he found out he was to be the first-round opponent for Andy Murray at Wimbledon.

The 27-year-old from Southend, ranked No.267 in the world, was driving back from his girlfriend’s house when his coach Mark Taylor sent him the good news.

“I was in Wandsworth and I had a text from my coach Mark which just said ‘Andy!!’,” said Peniston.

“It’s pretty cool. I almost crashed.

“I wasn’t really sure if it was a wind up, but then I knew he wouldn’t joke. I was pretty pumped.”

The pair will not play until Tuesday, with the organisers likely to make it third match on Centre Court to hit the peak tea-time audience.

And while there are few more daunting challenges than facing Murray in front of a sympathetic Wimbledon Centre Court crowd, Peniston has emerged triumphant from one of them.

In early 1997, while still only a toddler, he was diagnosed with rhabdomyosarcoma, a form of soft tissue cancer.