(Wimbledon) Beaten in five sets by world number three, Daniil Medvedev, in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon tournament, the American Christopher Eubanks assured Wednesday that he “savored the journey” which led him in a few months of 200th to 43rd in the world.
“It was great to take part in this game. I think the fans really got their money’s worth in terms of entertainment and quality of tennis,” commented the giant (2.01m) at a press conference.
Winner in the round of 16 over Stefanos Tsitsipas (5th) and five sets, he almost did it again by leading 4-6, 6-1, 6-4 against Medvedev before losing the fourth set in a tiebreaker and the last more clearly (6-1).
“Daniil is one of the best players in the world, one of the hardest to beat, for a reason. And I think he demonstrated why,” he said.
“He played exceptionally well in the key moment, the tiebreak of the fourth inning. He played really, really well in the fifth. It was as if he had raised his level of play even further in the fifth when I faltered a little. He had control of the game from there,” he continued.
But for Eubanks, who broke into the world top 100 a little over three months ago, before winning his first pro title in Mallorca, already on grass, just before Wimbledon and breaking his first top 10 this week, the balance cannot be negative.
“The last two or three weeks have been filled with positive things. I didn’t win today. It disappoints me. It’s unfortunate for me. But I think I’ve given a lot of positive signs that I can take with me to move forward, and that’s fine with me,” he said.
In any case, he will not change his spectacular and hyper-offensive game which seduced the demanding London public, even if there is waste.
“I know what I’m doing well and what I’m not doing well. I know that a very aggressive game generally suits me. It suits me to live or die by my faults. There are days when I will make a lot of mistakes, it comes from my game, but I assume it, “he said.
