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Aryna Sabalenka sends Wimbledon statement and Eubanks makes history as Medvedev books Alcaraz semis showdown
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Christopher Eubanks came, saw and nearly conquered Daniil Medvedev at Wimbledon but on Wednesday his dream run came to an end, albeit as the 27-year-old American broke 30 years of history at The All England Club.
In his six years as a professional Eubanks had never been inside the top 100 prior to April, and until a week ago had never been inside the top 50 nor won a tournament.
He did that in Mallorca.
At Wimbledon he very nearly made it all the way to the semifinals, all it took to stop him was a determined grand slam winner and his own nerves and inexperience as Medvedev won 6-4, 1-6, 4-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 in a match that featured a host of amazing winners and daring volleys.
As for the winners, Eubanks broke a long-standing Wimbledon record held by his countryman Andre Agassi from back in 1992, when Agassi whacked 317 of them as he took the title.
Eubanks surpassed that mark with two less matches. His total for the tournament 321, including a match-high 74 against Medvedev, who belted 52 of his own for the match as the Russian made just 13 unforced errors.
The fact Eubanks forced Medvedev to five sets is a testament to the American, who once again was watched by good friend and WTA star Coco Gauff.
For almost four sets it looked like Eubanks might add Medvedev's scalp to that of
Medvedev got off to a flying start by breaking Eubanks in the third game of the match and holding it all the way through the set before the Russian fell apart in the second, helpless and somewhat mesmerised by the American's power game.
Medvedev, who was routinely hitting serves over 200kph made 16 of 18 in that set, he won just half those points as Eubanks played near flawless tennis, clocking 17 winners most off the forehand.
Medvedev went to the chair muttering, Eubanks was whipping the crowd into a frenzy.
He broke again in the second game of the third as he forced a Medvedev error.
Then when he held to take the third 6-4, the masses on Court 1 stood and reached fever pitch.
Medvedev also got lucky in that set as he swiped a ball away and it hit a cameraman, but it landed softly enough not to cause any issue —
Medvedev was given a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct. The warning a fair penalty but he said he was concerned when the ball flew in an unexpected way.