As Christopher Eubanks soaked in the deafening ovation he received on Court 2 on Monday following his five-set thriller against Stephanos Tsitsipas, he could scarcely believe what he had just achieved. Not only had he just defeated the number five seed, giving him his biggest career victory thus far, but he had also qualified for the quarter finals of Wimbledon, earning him a place in the prestigious ‘Last 8 Club’.
With an infectious child-like gleam you’d expect when a puppy is gifted to the family for Christmas, Eubanks could barely gather his thoughts. “I feel like I’m living a dream right now,” he said. “This is insane.”
Despite Wimbledon’s history being loaded with success stories and odds-defying moments, Eubank’s ongoing journey deserves its place in the competition’s memory. This is because, despite being 27-years-old, his rise from relative anonymity matched with his affable persona has captivated fans. The role of the underdog has always been enthusiastically supported in this country, sometimes to the annoyance of the more established players, however it’s hard not to be at least intrigued by Eubanks’ story.
He grew up in a deeply religious family, with his father a Baptist Minister and his grandfather starting his own Baptist Church. Eubanks pursued his family’s faith, accrediting it to helping him believe in his own abilities; a confidence which is currently reaping rewards. His family’s influence doesn’t stop there, as his older brother took up tennis before he followed with the continuous encouragement from his parents.
Although on the surface his path followed the familiar route of competing in youth tournaments before entering college, the fact that he was brought up in Atlanta coincided with a boom of notable tennis figures such as former 38 seed Donald Young, many of which he befriended, sought counsel from and even practised with.
This by no means meant an easy path lay ahead. Following three relatively successful years playing college tennis, Eubanks opted out of education in order to pursue the sport full-time. The first few years he spent grinding the gruelling circuit, sporadically qualifying for majors only to lose in the first round. The prize money he was earning was scarcely enough to support himself, which lead to him to finding a job at the cable network Tennis Channel, working as a commentator where he excelled in his new role. However, unbeknownst to him at the time, the true value was that it changed his perspective on the game.
Coupled with his unwavering desire to forge a successful career in tennis, his behind-the-scenes involvement saw an upturn in his fortunes on the court. He won his first US open game last year, going a round further this year. He reached the masters quarter-final in Miami in March, earning him his first ranking in the Top 100, an important milestone in a player’s development.
Then he set his sights on the grass-court season, the one surface he felt least at home on. Ironically, Eubanks messaged the Belgian legend Kim Clijsters, proclaiming his hatred for grass, followed by swiftly winning his first ATP Title. This set him up in good stead to continue his progress at Wimbledon. However, a very select few would have predicted such a staggering breakthrough.
The fascination with Eubanks transcends his sporting achievements, as many have graced the courts with exceptional talent. Rather, it’s his youthful demeanour which perfectly complements his unique skillset. His lean 6 ft 7 in frame allows him to combine power with athleticism, often attacking points and imposing himself on the net.
Along with a powerful serve and an elegant but menacing one-handed backhand, he plays an attractive and aggressive brand of tennis which matches his energetic personality. Whilst his ever-growing fanbase may have uncovered a new hero to get behind, those facing him would be unwise to underestimate the talent and desire behind the gentle giant whose journey in the big-time has just begun.
