Christopher Eubanks already accumulates six victories in the Miami Open 2023, two in the previous phase and four in the final table. For the first time he is in the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 tournament, a horizon that will open the doors for him next Monday to the best ranking of his career: virtually #85 in the world. There is no doubt, the American has become the big surprise of the event, although it has not been easy to get here. After his victory in two sets against Mannarino, the 26-year-old player sat down again before the press to explain what this path has been like and how he is managing to keep the emotion from overtaking him in matches.
Ticket to the quarterfinals
“I feel great, as good as I felt yesterday, it’s something incredible all this. I don’t know, there have been a lot of things between the delays, the stops, the starts, the warm-up, the cool-down, the warm-up again… all these things make victory taste a little sweeter afterwards. It’s my first quarterfinal of a Masters 1000, something very special for me, so I feel great.”
Learning to manage emotion
“Last night I had many different emotions, my mind was very fragile, I was already thinking about a third set, so coming back from the locker room and winning that tiebreak was too much. I had to save five set balls to return, it was a surprise that I won the match there. Then I also made sure to reach the top 100, that’s where the emotion came from. It’s been about five years since I turned pro and honestly for the first year I thought this award would come a lot faster. In a year I got close to #150, I thought it would come now, but it didn’t happen this way, then COVID came and everything stopped. Today I feel like I’m here, I’m playing well, let’s see how long I can keep this streak going”.
Win in two tiebreaks against Mannarino
“Adrian is an established veteran, he is very crafty, he has beaten some of the best in the world. My thought was to go out and keep my service, it’s all I can control, do what I have to do at all times. Afterwards it’s all sensations, figuring out the game, he is very good with his hands and absorbing the rhythm, for me it was risky to send him a ball that was too strong. Luckily, I was able to find the shots he needed and redirect some balls, changing directions, sometimes hitting him blindfolded. I’ll be honest, some balls went in at the right time, that’s why I’m in the quarterfinals.”
Panic to look at his new ranking
“At the moment I am not reviewing it, although last night I could not help it, I had the notifications tab overflowing. I have no idea how I rank, I promise not to review this app until the tournament is over, whenever that is. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there, although I have to be honest, I’m looking forward to checking it out. Well, not too soon, just when the tournament is over, so it will be more fun to open it up and see exactly where I am.
The affection of the people
“During all these years, the most important thing for me has always been to be a good person. Now I see that all those people with whom I have shared time, from my university years to my arrival on the circuit, approach me and tell me that I deserve it, that everything that is happening to me here I deserve it. This just goes to show what I’ve tried to do over the years with all these people, all that support means a lot to me, these are extremely exciting days.”
