American Christopher Eubanks, 77th in the world, saved five match points before beating South African Lloyd Harris (298th) 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (11/9) on Friday and thus qualifying on Mallorca’s turf for its first ATP final. “It’s the reward for hard work,” commented the 27-year-old American. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, but I’m finally consistent. This week, I’m playing better and better game after game and I hope it will be even better tomorrow” Saturday in the final.
Eubanks will try to win his first ATP title against the winner of the other semi-final between Frenchman Adrian Mannarino (43rd) and German Jannik Hanfmann (48th). With this final, Eubanks, whose best ranking was previously 74th, will enter the Top 50 on Monday on the first day of Wimbledon where he will play for the first time. He will face the Brazilian Thiago Monteiro (96th) in the first round.
Friday against Harris, he saved three consecutive match points on his serve at 5-4 in the third set and then two more in the tie-break. And it took him three in this decisive game to conclude against the ex-31st in the world who returns after having had wrist surgery in the spring of 2022.
