Christopher Eubanks is becoming a BB&T Atlanta Open staple.
Highlighting “College Night,” Eubanks defeated Californian Taylor Fritz 7-6, 6-4.
“It was incredible,” he said. “I can’t really put it into words. Being able to play in the tournament in my hometown is already hard to put into words, but to come out with a win is just, in front of the crowd, it was electric, is beyond comprehension. I’m at a loss of words right now.”
Eubanks controlled the game throughout. He said he expected to play his best game and was particularly satisfied with his serving. A strong start helped him shake the early nerves.
The Georgia Tech star earned a wild-card entry, making 2017 his third time in the event. He and partner Donald Young made it to the doubles semifinals last year.
Eubanks opposes Jared Donaldson on Thursday. He praised Donaldson’s returning ability and said he’s looking forward to facing him.
“Jared is a great player,” Eubanks said. “It’s another match I’m looking forward to. … He’s had a stellar career to this point. I think he’s going to do some pretty great things. I’m just pretty excited to get out there and go about it with him.”
Eddie Gonzalez, the tournament’s chief business officer and director, said College Night is a major part of the Atlanta Open. Younger participants will help the tournament moving forward, in his estimation.
Eubanks’s first ATP main draw singles match came via a wild card in the 2015 Atlanta Open, when he lost to Radek Stepanek. Three-time Atlanta Open winner John Isner and others began their world ascensions through wild card bids.
“That’s how you grow it,” Gonzalez said at a press conference in June. “At the end of the day, we want this to be a common passion between friends, family, employees, customers, fans. If we can inspire our youth to come out here, and eventually be a Trent Bride or Chris Eubanks, then we feel like we’d be successful.”
Eubanks, a two-time ACC Player of The Year, made it six consecutive seasons Georgia Tech’s been represented at the Atlanta Open.
“It’s an honor for him to do it,” said Georgia Tech coach Kenny Thorne, who won 2017 ACC coach of the year. “It’s an honor for Georgia Tech to be involved. For him being at Westlake High School and coming through, the guy is on tennis videos all weekend, just watching tennis players. He’s a tennis nut who loves the game.”
Following a strong collegiate season (31-7), Eubanks lost in the quarterfinals of the NCAA singles tournament. Eubanks became the first Yellow Jacket and fifth player in ACC history to win back-to-back conference player of the year honors.
The 21-year-old became the first Tech student-athlete to earn an invitation to the U.S. Open qualifying tournament in 2016.
“Everything’s a learning process,” Eubanks said. “If I can continue to learn and get better, from the wins as well as the losses, I think I can be a much better player down the line.”
