Simply playing in the BB&T Atlanta was “already tough enough to put into words” for local college star Christopher Eubanks. A first-round win on Tuesday evening win took the experience to another level. Now it’s like something out of a dream.
A little more than 48 hours after he earned the first ATP-level match victory of his career, Eubanks added a second by upsetting fellow American Jared Donaldson 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday night to book an improbable spot in the quarterfinals. The Atlanta native and Georgia Tech standout struck eight aces and broke Donaldson four times to triumph in one hour and 46 minutes.
Eubanks preceded his surprise at the expense of the 20-year-old Donaldson by ousting 19-year-old Taylor Fritz in round one.
“I do not think I could rank one over another,” Eubanks said when asked to compare his first ATP win with clinching his first ATP-level quarterfinal. ” The whole situation is pretty crazy. Both of the wins lumped up together, it makes for a pretty remarkable week. I am just hoping I can keep it going. Then you can be asking what is better your first, your second or your third.
“Yeah, pretty much sums it up (as) best you can,” Eubanks said when hit with the “dream week” question. “It is like a dream come true. I am hoping I am not waking up anytime soon.”
The 21-year-old, who owns a decent ranking of No. 461 thanks to marginal Challenger and Futures success despite spending most of his time on the collegiate court, will try to keep the dream alive when he runs into an American–again–on quarterfinal Friday. Eubanks has another tough test on his hands in the form of Ryan Harrison, who is playing the most consistent tennis of his career in 2017 and comes in as the No. 4 seed and No. 42 player in the world.
John Millman served for the match on Thursday, but Harrison clawed his way back from the brink of defeat to prevail 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 7-5 after two hours and 45 minutes.
“One of the things I have been focusing on in the last 12 months is just understanding bad things are going to happen,” the 25-year-old said, referencing his loss of the opening set against Millman after leading 4-2 and having triple break point for 5-2. “I am pretty sure 12 months ago I would have gone down in that match. I think that my energy level, the way the crowd helped and the way I was able to stay positive even down a set and a break got me through it.”
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Harrison in 2!
great pick, Webb