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Eubanks Rising! American Lets Emotions Flow After Top-100 Milestone

Tennis Express

By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday March 28, 2023

Chris Eubanks is officially in late bloom mode. The Atlanta native, a former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket, is having one of the best weeks of his career at the Miami Open.

The 26-year-old, ranked 117 entering the week, has engineered victories over Denis Kudla, Borna Coric (his first career Top 20 win) and Gregoire Barrere to reach the round of 16 at Miami for the first time.

That’s not all…

The two-time NCAA All-American entered the week with just two Masters 1000 main draw victories to his name, but he’s more than doubled that number and also ensured himself of a Top-100 ranking in next week’s ATP rankings for the first time.

The American savored the magical moment on court, hugging his team after the 6-3, 7-6(7) victory over Barrere, and afterwards he conducted an emotional press conference in the mixed zone with reporters at the Miami Open.


Eubanks said he had to find a way to stop thinking about reaching the Top 100, and he had the perfect solution. Delete the app!

“I was thinking about the Top 100 and everything, and I had some losses that I shouldn’t have,” he said. “This week I said ‘Alright I’m going to delete the rankings app,’ and focus on playing every single match,” he said, on the verge of tears. “It feels good.”

Eubanks, who spends his off hours as a Tennis Channel analyst, was clearly on cloud nine. His voice was cracking and he found it hard to speak as he explained what the moment meant to him.

“I’m one of those people who watch people get all emotional and stuff and I’m like ‘Yeah, it’s so dramatic,’ but thinking back, it’s just weird – everything is coming together…. Growing up I was never the best junior, I was never the was the best in my state, never was the best in my section, never was the best in the nation, I just kept practicing and working and said ‘Hey, whatever happens, happens.’”

Eubanks, who will turn 27 in May, has needed time to find his self-belief on the court.

“I got a scholarship [to college] – great. I said I wanted to go pro, but didn’t know if I really meant it,” he said. “Honestly I didn’t really know if I had the game to compete with top-level guys. I…

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