WHAT HAPPENED: It’s fair to say that few spectators on Court 17 had ever heard of Christopher Eubanks.
The 25-year-old American, ranked No. 214, was just 4-14 in his career coming into his first-round match against Frances Tiafoe, another American who has had considerably more success on tour. Tiafoe, 23, reached his first slam quarterfinal two years ago; Eubanks had never won a match at a major, and he had yet to win any main-draw match in 2021. Yet for the better part of three sets, Eubanks, an Atlanta native and former two-time All-American at Georgia Tech, looked every bit Tiafoe’s equal, and at times, his superior.
The lanky, 6-foot-7 Georgian came out firing under the lights and before a full crowd on Court 17, cracking wry smiles as he pulled off pretty shots from all parts of the court. Eubanks displayed a fluid game, including a flashy forehand and stylish one-handed backhand. But mostly he produced under pressure, repeatedly snuffing out break-point opportunities with clutch aces and forehand winners.
Eubanks saved four break points in the first set and five in the second. After losing the first set in a tiebreak, 10 points to eight, the Georgian came back to snatch his first break point and a 6-5 lead. In the following game, Eubanks fired an ace to level the match at one set apiece.
However, after squandering nine break points, Tiafoe, the Maryland native, finally claimed his first break deep in the third set. He snatched the advantage break and steadied his game, outlasting his upstart American challenger. Ultimately, Tiafoe’s consistency on big points and greater experience at the pro level won out, allowing the younger and higher-ranked American to prevail.
Though he had difficulty converting on break-point chances, winning just three of 15, Tiafoe played otherwise clean tennis, notching 47 winners and just 18 unforced errors.
WHAT IT MEANS: The Maryland native Tiafoe was ranked as high as No. 29 two years ago, when he reached his first slam quarterfinal at the Australian Open. While Tiafoe has not been able to repeat that success, the fifth-ranked American (and current No. 50 in the world) did defeat third-ranked Stefanos Tsitsipas earlier this year in the first round at Wimbledon.
Eubanks–who has spent most of his time on the Challenger circuit–blasted 26 aces and bagged 56 winners versus 36 unforced errors on the night. The Georgian looked like he belonged on court with Tiafoe. It is perhaps a matter of consistency and knowing when to employ his big shots that have precluded him from making the jump from Challenger events to tour-level draws. Perhaps this tough test, even in defeat, will provide the necessary spark.
MATCH POINT: Though Eubanks has had middling success on the pro tour, he is only a few credits short of earning a business degree at Georgia Tech, and he is reputed to be a fairly accomplished pianist who has begun getting back into playing.
