LONDON. – Christopher Eubanks’s epic Wimbledon adventure was ended in the quarterfinals by Daniil Medvedev on Wednesday, but the American debutant has left an indelible mark on the championships.
With winners flying off his racket like fireworks the 27-year-old looked poised to emulate American great John McEnroe and reach the semifinal on his first appearance.
In the end he ran out of ammunition and was beaten 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-1 by the third seed, receiving a standing ovation as he walked off Court One.
But his free-flowing attacking tennis, full of vintage serve and volley, rasping returns and booming serves catapulted the former Georgia Tech player into the hearts of the Court One crowd– and also into the record books.
Eubanks signed off his Wimbledon run with 321 winners, beating Andre Agassi’s record set in 1992.
Of the 1,244 points he contested during five matches at the All England Club, 26% of them ended in a Eubanks winners–a tournament leading figure.
His ace total of 102, through the quarterfinals, was also tournament-topping while his regular ventures to the net earned him 168 points with a 68% success rate– figures that will hearten those yearning for a return of the volleyers.
But statistics aside, Eubanks, who only broke into the top 100 last year and is a part-time tennis commentator, captivated the Wimbledon crowds with his free-flowing tennis, engaging personality and for the fact that he played with a smile.
