Chris Eubanks, a professional tennis player, found himself at a crossroads in his career. Despite having no professional titles to his name, Eubanks had the support of his friends Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff, who believed he belonged at the top level of the sport. However, Eubanks doubted his abilities as a player and started considering a career in broadcasting. In 2021, he told his agent that if he remained ranked 200 by the following year and injuries weren’t a factor, he would pursue other opportunities.
That opportunity came in the form of a recurring gig as an analyst for the Tennis Channel. Little did Eubanks know that this job off the court would completely change his perspective on the game. Now, at 27 years old, Eubanks is preparing for his first-ever Grand Slam quarterfinal, and he attributes his success to the time he spent in the commentary booth.
According to Eubanks, being an analyst has significantly improved his on-court perception. He is able to remove his emotions from the equation and approach the game as if he were commentating on it. This shift in perspective has been instrumental in his recent success at Wimbledon, where he has defeated top-ranked players such as Cam Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Eubanks acknowledges that his journey to this point has been unexpected. He primarily competes on lower-tier circuits, where matches often go unnoticed and resources are limited. However, his off-court work, including his role as a Tennis Channel analyst and his portrayal of Arthur Ashe in a CNN documentary, has helped raise his profile.
Despite his newfound success, Eubanks remains humble and surprised by his achievements at Wimbledon. Just a few weeks ago, he was seeking advice from Kim Clijsters on how to navigate grass courts, which he previously found frustrating. However, Eubanks’ persistence paid off, and he secured his first top-tier title at the Mallorca Open. His winning streak on grass now stands at nine matches, setting up a highly anticipated matchup with Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinals.
Eubanks describes his evolving relationship with grass courts as strenuous but now considers it his best friend. He is familiar with his upcoming opponent, Medvedev, having played against him earlier in the season and even commentated on one of his matches. Eubanks recognizes Medvedev as a master problem-solver on the court.
Making it to the quarterfinals not only guarantees Eubanks a significant prize money of $439,000 but also grants him entry into Wimbledon’s prestigious Last 8 Club. This achievement includes lifetime passes to the Championships and other perks, a remarkable reward for someone who had never even played in the main draw at Wimbledon before.
Eubanks can hardly believe the incredible journey he’s been on and feels like he’s living a dream. With each match, he continues to defy expectations and prove that anything is possible with determination and the right mindset.
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Hasibur Rahaman is a passionate sports journalist. He covers everything from cricket to field hockey, delivering up-to-the-minute updates and in-depth analysis of sporting events, both within India and on the international stage.
