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Tennis
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Ryan Peniston left his family at just 13 years old to move to France and pursue his dream of becoming a professional tennis player. After five years there, he moved to the United States to play college tennis at the University of Memphis spending nine formative years away from home.
In this episode, Ryan reflects on the sacrifices involved and whether he would make the same decision again. He also discusses reaching a career-high ranking of world No. 123, defeating Casper Ruud at Queen’s, playing at Wimbledon and the injuries that have disrupted his career.
We also explore the financial and mental realities of professional tennis, his recovery from a lower-back stress fracture, his work with Young Lives vs Cancer and his early experiences in commentary and punditry.
Hope you enjoy!
Fabio
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"Ryan Peniston: Leaving His Family at 13 to Pursue a Tennis Dream. Ep.277" is an episode of The Functional Tennis Podcast. Runtime 31 min. Published August 5, 2026. Hit play above to stream it here, or open the free Spot Sports app for background play and offline downloads.