Wimbledon hero Chris Eubanks displays on how life has modified since SW19 run
Chris Eubanks is adjusting to life after his exploits at Wimbledon took his profile to a different stage. The 6ft 7″ Georgia Tech graduate only broke into the world top 100 earlier this year but after winning his first ATP tour event at the Mallorca Open he went on to reach the quarter-finals at SW19, taking the scalps of Cam Norrie and Stefanos Tsitsipas in the process.
He arrived at his hometown tournament the Atlanta Open this week to discover that interest in him was at an all-time high. Eubanks has played the event on a couple of other occasions, but this was the first time that he has had a line of people waiting for selfies with him when he took his rackets to the stringer.
Amongst fans in the crowd who were there to see his first-round match was NFL star Cam Newton and when Eubanks made his way onto the court he was introduced as “our hometown hero”.
The 27-year-old had an concept that his life was about to alter after his excellent performances and upbeat carefree angle endeared him to the All England Club crowd on his Wimbledon debut.
And just some weeks later, Eubanks has been reflecting on the modifications which have already occurred in his day-to-day life.
Speaking on court docket after his 6-2, 6-4 victory towards Andres Martin, he stated: “It’s a lot different. I’m going to the grocery store & people are stopping & recognizing me. I used to get stopped & get asked if I played basketball. Those questions have stopped altogether.”
Eubanks recent success may have done wonders for him in the popularity stakes, but it is also an important step in the security of his career. Now the world No. 32, he will qualify automatically for ATP events and will not need to play in any Challenger-level events for the foreseeable.
The challenge now will be to maintain his current level of play on a consistent basis, something he admits to having to battle with in the past.
“It’s always been something I’ve struggled with,” he conceded. “But I think now I’m kind of hitting my stride and being able to put together quality wins every week, and even if I’m not winning I’m putting forth a good effort and playing the right way, which is something I don’t think I always did.”
Eubanks will be hoping that a good run at the Atlanta Open will set him up nicely for his next tilt at a Grand Slam when the US Open gets underway on August 28.
“When I’m going into Grand Slams now, I think I’m maybe expecting a little more of myself or knowing what my capabilities are and what I can do,” Eubanks added. “It’s extra of a psychological adjustment in how I view myself.”