By Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Christopher Eubanks saved 14 of 16 break points upsetting defending champion Alexander Bublik 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3 in Halle.
Photo credit: Mike Hewitt/Getty
Staggering through an eight-match losing streak, Christopher Eubanks is finding his footing on grass again.
Staring down break-point barrage today, Eubanks defeated defending-champion Alexander Bublik 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-3 to reach his first quarterfinal of the season in Halle.
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Eubanks fended off 14 of 16 break points and withstood 22 aces from Bublik scoring his first Top 20-win since Wimbledon last July.
At Wimbledon last summer, an explosive Eubanks edged Stefanos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-6(4), 3-6, 6-4, 6-4 scoring his first career Top 5 victory and advancing to his maiden major quarterfinal at Wimbledon—and date with Daniil Medvedev.
The 28-year-old Eubanks will face Chinese No. 1 Zhang Zhizhen for a semifinal spot in Halle. Zhang rallied from 3-5 down in the tiebreaker winning four points in a row to surprise Medvedev 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(5).
It was Zhang's first Top-10 win since he defeated Casper Ruud at the 2023 US Open and sends him into his eighth career Tour-level quarterfinal, including his second on grass.
Eubanks arrived in Halle spinning his wheels in an eight-match losing streak.
In his opener, Eubanks edged Pedro Martinez then defeated Bublik today for his first ATP quarterfinal since the 2023 Atlanta Open.
It's the first time Eubanks has scored back-to-back Tour-level wins since Atlanta last July.
Eubanks scored the crucial break for 5-3 in the deciding set.
Climbing out of a 15-30 hole, Eubanks gained match point. On match point, Eubanks badly missed a forehand down the line.
Resetting, Eubanks came right back and won a crosscourt forehand exchange for a second match point.
Skimming the tape with a slice backhand approach, Eubanks drew one final error to wrap up the win in two hours, 10 minutes.
Twenty-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils beat German wild card Dominik Koepfer 6-3, 6-4 to reach his 10th career quarterfinal.