Tennis
Wimbledon star to receive huge world rankings hit after brutal first-round loss
United States tennis player Christopher Eubanks suffered a shock first-round defeat at Wimbledon and will take a major hit in the ATP singles rankings. Eubanks lost in straight sets to Quentin Halys (6-4, 6-4, 6-2), and his top 100 status could be at risk.
Eubanks enjoyed a breakthrough 2023 season, bursting into the top 100 for the first time in his career.
The Atlanta native reached the quarter-finals of both the Miami Open and Wimbledon last year and managed to reach No.42 in the world. This year he hasn’t been able to maintain that same form, slipping to No.62 in the world before Wimbledon began.
Wimbledon was the chance for Eubanks to turn his season around, but after being outclassed by Halys he could slip out of the top 100. According to tennis writer Steve Tignor, his ranking will “take a hit” and will need a strong performance at the U.S. Open to salvage his 2024 season.
Eubanks has now lost 15 of his 21 tour-level contests in 2024, crashing back down to reality after a dream 2023 season. Eubanks was assumed as a late bloomer last year after finally finding his winning streak, but has lost his rhythm again and needs to desperately turn things around in the final major of the year.
Going into 2023, Eubanks had just one career win at a major tournament, and just two victories across the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 after making his debut back in 2015. Everything changed last year as Eubanks won six matches across the four majors, and finished the season with a positive record for the first time.
Eubanks was emotional in 2023 when realizing he had done enough to break the top 100 for the first time. “It’s a benchmark,” Eubanks said when he was asked what being in the top 100 means in March 2023. “Every professional tennis player, it’s a big deal for them. It solidifies like, ‘Hey, you’re a real pro.’ You’re an established pro.’
“Out of everybody in the world that plays tennis at some point, in some week in the world, you were one of the best 100 tennis players in the world. In the world! Like, there’s a lot of people that play tennis. A lot of people.
“And it’s like, I’m sitting here as one of the top 100 best people to do it – one of the best players to do it right now. It feels good. Damn it, man. This —- is…. Ugh. Why am I crying? This is so embarrassing! But, no, it feels good.”
Eubanks is known for being a humble, gentle giant as the tennis player stands at 6-foot-7. The 28-year-old may have to take a more ruthless approach at the US Open, to save a disappointing year.