
After defeating Australia’s Chris O’Connell in the third round of the Championships, Christopher Eubanks has continued his flashy run through to the quarter finals with a win over fifth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Ranked 77 just over two weeks ago, Eubanks has been in blistering form with his free swinging and tall stature proving to pose problems for opposition players.
Unbelievably, Eubanks has hit 247 winners heading into the quarter finals. This ranks second highest ever in the Open Era for most number of winners hit in the first four rounds at the Championships.
After his loss to Eubanks, Chris O’Connell conceded that most of the match had been played on Eubanks’ terms.
“Not only was his serve fantastic, he was unbelievable off the ground. As soon as I even made a return, he was just suffocating me with his next ball,” he said.
O’Connell’s assessment of the 27-year-old from Atlanta couldn’t be more accurate. Eubanks has had it his way during the Championships with his unrelenting serve and his conspicuous one-handed back hand that so often produces freakish winning points.
The former US college star finds himself through to the Wimbledon quarter finals for the first time in his career after defeating Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Tsitsipas was left looking for answers during the fourth and fifth sets as Eubanks clicked into gear and placed significant pressure on him.
As an outsider in this year’s draw, Eubanks is playing with freedom and boldness which has earned him favouritism from fans as he begins his charge towards the pointy end of the tournament.
Eubanks is set for a showdown with Daniil Medvedev who although a regular winner on tour has never reached a quarter final on the grass at Wimbledon.
It was only less than five months ago when the pair met at the Miami Open also in the quarter finals with Medvedev prevailing in straight sets.
This time around, Eubanks has come off the back of a title win when he was victorious on the grass at Mallorca in straight sets to claim his first ATP tour title last month.
With a title under his belt and a wave of momentum at Wimbledon, the American will be hard to stop with Medvedev admitting he will have a strong battle to come.
“Here he's on fire again. He just won his first ATP title. Here in the quarters beating Stefanos in five sets, unbelievable,” he said.
“I know I need to be at my one hundred percent and absolute best physically, tennis-wise, and mentally to try to beat him.”
Meanwhile Eubanks who has now transformed himself and burst into the spotlight is looking forward to the challenge and what lies ahead.
Speaking after his fourth-round match, Eubanks explained his Wimbledon run has been a whirlwind.
“It's been something that you dream about. But I think for me I didn't really know if that dream would actually come true,” he said.
Stunningly, Eubanks declared before the tournament that the grass surface was “the stupidest surface” to play on.
Since then, he’s demonstrated that the grass surface might in fact be his preferred surface and when asked specifically about his comments before Wimbledon, he was quick to change his mind.
“Biggest lesson? I guess that I like grass,” he said with a smile.
“Grass and I had a strained relationship over the years. Right now, I think it's my best friend.”
Eubanks will again take to the courts on day 10 of The Championships against Daniil Medvedev with both players bidding to progress to the semi finals at Wimbledon for the first time.
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