TENNIS NEWS FROM ATLANTA QUARTERFINAL A “DREAM” FOR EUBANKS, HARRISON BATTLES BACK TO BEAT MILLMAN

Written by: Staff on 28th July 2017

TENNIS NEWS FROM ATLANTA QUARTERFINAL A "DREAM" FOR EUBANKS, HARRISON BATTLES BACK TO BEAT MILLMAN

epa06113848 Christopher Eubanks of the USA reacts after defeating Jared Donaldson of the USA during a second round match at the BB&T Atlanta Open tennis tournament at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 27 July 2017. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER |

Atlanta quarterfinal a “dream” for Eubanks, Harrison battles back to beat Millman

By Ricky Dimon

Merely playing in the BB&T Atlanta was “already tough enough to put into words” for native son Christopher Eubanks. A first-round victory on Tuesday evening win took the experience up another level. Now it’s like something out of a dream.

Approximately 48 hours after he earned the first ATP-level match win of his career, Eubanks added a second by upsetting fellow American Jared Donaldson 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 on Thursday evening to earn an improbable spot in the quarterfinals. The Atlanta resident and Georgia Tech star fired eight aces and broke Donaldson four times to prevail in one hour and 46 minutes.

Eubanks preceded his upset of the 20-year-old Donaldson by knocking off 19-year-old Taylor Fritz in round one.

“I do not think I could rank one over another,” Eubanks responded when asked to compare his first ATP win with clinching his first ATP-level quarterfinal. ” The whole situation is pretty crazy. Both of the wins lumped up together, it makes for a pretty remarkable week. I am just hoping I can keep it going. Then you can be asking what is better your first, your second or your third.

“Yeah, pretty much sums it up (as) best you can,” Eubanks said asked of this was like a dream week for him. “It is like a dream come true. I am hoping I am not waking up anytime soon.”

The 21-year-old, who owns a solid ranking of No. 461 in the world thanks to marginal Challenger and Futures success despite spending most of his time on the collegiate court, will try to keep the dream alive when he meets an American–again–during quarterfinal action on Friday. Eubanks has another tough test on his hands in the form of Ryan Harrison, who is playing the best tennis of his life this season and registers in as the No. 4 seed and No. 42 player in the world.

Ryan Harrison of US in action against John Millman of Australia, during a second round match at the BB&T Atlanta Open tennis tournament at Atlantic Station in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, 27 July 2017. EPA/ERIK S. LESSER

John Millman served for the match on Thursday, but Harrison battled back from the brink of defeat to triumph 6-7(2), 7-6(4), 7-5 after two hours and 45 minutes.

“One of the things I have been focusing on in the last 12 months is just understanding bad things are going to happen,” the 25-year-old commented, referencing his loss of the opening set against Millman after leading 4-2 and having triple break point for 5-2. “I am pretty sure 12 months ago I would have gone down in that match. I think that my energy level, the way the crowd helped and the way I was able to stay positive even down a set and a break got me through it.”