Ryan Peniston described the cancer treatment that stunted his growth as a child as a "blessing in disguise" after a dream Wimbledon debut.
The British wildcard beat Swiss world number 95 Henri Laaksonen 6-4 6-3 6-2 to reach the second round on Tuesday.
He said overcoming a rare cancer with chemotherapy and surgery at the age of one, had given him "so much strength".
"I didn't start growing until ...15, 16. I was always about a foot smaller than all my peers," he said.
"They all were growing and getting bigger serves and everything. I was struggling just trying to run around and get the balls.