RYAN Peniston is celebrating after securing the first ATP point of his blossoming career.

The 17-year-old, who grew up in Great Wakering, won three qualifying rounds and his first round match at the Ilkley Futures event .

And his father, Paul, said his son was pleased to get off the mark.

“Ryan has only been playing on the tour for a few months but he’s delighted to get his first point and it’s a big monkey off his back now,” said Paul.

“This was the fourth or fifth tournament he had gone in for and he’s pleased to be up and running.

“Now he wants to keep going and pick up a few more.”

Peniston has been playing since the age of three when he was coached by his father.

He also trained at Garons in Southend before heading out to the ISP Tennis Academy in France, when aged just 13.

“It was a very big decision for us all at the time but it seems to be paying off now,” said Paul.

“I wasn’t very happy with the way things were done in this country so we had a look around and decided it would be best for Ryan if he went out to Nice.”

Peniston has one year left in France before having to decide what will then be the best route to develop his career.

The youngster could decide to play on the tour full-time or head to America to train out in the States.

“We have a year to make up our mind and decide what’s best for Ryan,” said Paul.

“He will either go on the tour or go out to America and play in their collegiate system.”

By then Peniston hopes to have more points on the Association of Tennis Professionals tour.

And he could soon be heading out to Kuwait in an attempt to make that happen, alongside Southend’s Rob Carter who has also won points on the tour.