After turning pro in October, American Christopher Eubanks found out the adjustment to the professional level wasn’t going to come easy. Eubanks has already experienced a little bit of everything in 2018, including matches at Futures, Challengers, and Tour-level events.
Before heading to Mexico, Eubanks found himself on the wrong end of a couple of close losses. In Miami, Eubanks was awarded a wild card into the main draw. He faced fellow American Michael Mmoh and led 3-1 in the third set before falling 6-4. Eubanks received a qualifying wild card to the US Mens Clay Court Championships in Houston, Texas, where he fell to American Bradley Klahn in a third set tiebreaker after leading 5-3 in the third set.
Eubanks entered the Guadalajara Challenger ranked #290 in the world. On paper, his first round match against #1022 ranked wildcard Gerardo Lopez Villasenor looked like an easy win. It was anything but, as Eubanks saved a match point in the third set before winning 6-1 3-6 7-6(5). It wasn’t apparent at the time, but that win may have done wonders for his young career. Eubanks went on to reach the final, losing a heartbreaker to Marcelo Arevalo in three sets.
Going into the Leon Challenger, you had to figure Eubanks would be tired after losing in the final the week before. He showed no signs of fatigue rolling through to the semifinals without dropping a set. Eubanks took the scenic route his next two matches defeating qualifier Roberto Quiroz in three sets and then defeating Australian John Patrick Smith in the final in a third set tiebreaker, giving Eubanks his first Challenger title just six months after announcing he would forgo his senior season at Georgia Tech and turn pro.
He's done it! @chris_eubanks96 claims his first #ATPChallenger title, edging John-Patrick Smith 64 36 76(4) in Leon. pic.twitter.com/PJAFhE7QGd
— ATP Challenger Tour (@ATPChallenger) April 29, 2018
Timing is everything. After winning the title in Leon, Eubanks will now be ranked a career-high #184, which puts him in position to play qualifying at Roland Garros since the cutoff is three weeks before the event begins. How Christopher Eubanks plays on clay is yet to be determined, but it’s safe to say the American is most likely calling an audible on his schedule and will make an appearance on the red clay in Paris for the first time in his career.
