LOOKING BACK , POWERING FORWARD

As Christopher Eubanks took inspiration from tennis history, he also reset his own career trajectory. Armed with a career-high ranking and heartening perspective, he’s now embracing a brighter future in the sport.

Many players take a keen interest in tennis history as they plot their rise on the professional tour. Few, however, have the chance to develop such rich insights as Christopher Eubanks.

In 2021, the Atlanta-born-andbased Eubanks portrayed the late Arthur Ashe in the Citizen Ashe documentary, providing the opportunity to learn more about the late American’s rise to become a three-time Grand Slam singles champion.

“It was really, really cool. It was an experience not just doing film … but also having to do the research that I did, having to go back and watch old film to try to get the technique down,” reflected Eubanks, who similarly valued the lessons absorbed about Ashe’s profound off-court influence.

“Also watching tonnes of interviews of him just to try to learn his demeanour, his perspective on things, his philosophy, how important education was. So many di erent things that it challenged me. But it was also super, super rewarding when I got to see the nal project.”

Eubanks’ own history became a talking point at Wimbledon, where he made his long-awaited main-draw debut at age 27 a er four unsuccessful qualifying campaigns. With wins over 2022 semi nalist Cameron Norrie and No.5 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, the contrast couldn’t have been more pronounced in his electrifying charge to the 2023 quarter nals, where he exited to No.3 seed Daniil Medvedev in ve thrilling sets.

“Everything from realising that I have two credentials at Wimbledon for the rest of my life, to checking my phone and seeing my name as an ESPN alert, to realising how much I disliked grass at the beginning of the grass-court season, to now look at where I am,” he said of the life-changing result.

Still, it wasn’t the rst time the American had learned the value of persistence. In fact, it wasn’t even the most important one, with a despondent Eubanks almost quitting the sport completely as he struggled to gain traction when the tennis tours resumed a er the pandemic.

“I had a real sit-down with my agent in

2021 and I said, ‘Listen, if I’m still 200 by next year and injuries haven’t played a part, I can do something else with my time’,” said Eubanks, who subsequently lost in the second round of Australian Open 2022 qualifying. “It’s not that glamorous if you’re ranked around 200.”

And it wasn’t as if the charismatic Eubanks lacked options. With a business degree almost completed as he pursued looking forward to continuing, no matter what my ranking is.”

For now, that ranking provides a powerful platform, Eubanks peaking at world No.31 after Wimbledon. Should that hold until the US Open, he will be seeded in a fifth main-draw campaign at his home Grand Slam – a dizzying rise given he started the season ranked No.123. Reaching the Miami quarterfinals provided a top- the college tennis pathway at Georgia Tech, he’d developed a broader skillset. A commentary role with Tennis Channel became a welcome side gig – and came with the silver lining that it also enhanced his tennis.

“Now I think doing the commentary has kind of helped my game in a sense,” said Eubanks at the All England Club, explaining how it helped him develop a more analytical mindset in reading patterns of play. “It’s something that I’m

100 breakthrough and on the eve of The Championships, Eubanks leapt into the world’s top 50 after winning a maiden ATP title in Mallorca.

It helped that the popular Eubanks, the son of father Mark (a Baptist minister) and mother Carla, had established some handy tennis connections. He credits former ATP player Donald Young as a driving in uence in pursuing professional tennis, with Jarmere Jenkins (a long-time hitting

Holger Rune does not shy from a challenge, as his extraordinary record against topranked opponents highlights.

The 20-year-old Dane won seven of his first eight matches against top-five players. This feat has been achieved just once before on the ATP Tour and not for nearly five decades.

Romanian Ille Nastase, a former world No.1 and two-time major singles champion, is the only other man to enjoy such early success against the game’s elite.

“I play some of my best tennis when I play the top guys of the world,” Rune acknowledged in Rome, after notching a seventh consecutive top-five win.

“I mean, it’s a good time to play your best tennis because you need it against those players. I’ve managed to do it many times now.”

When Rune celebrated his 20th birthday in late April, he had tallied 11 top-10 victories so far in his career.

In comparison, Novak Djokovic, the ATP Tour’s record-holder for most top-10 wins, had six at the same age. Roger Federer, Rune’s childhood idol, had nine.

Rune demonstrated his fearlessness against the world’s best in Paris late last year, where he defeated five consecutive top-10 players to claim his maiden ATP Masters 1000 title.

No man had previously achieved this feat at a tour-level tournament, outside of the prestigious season-ending ATP Finals.

“It’s kind of a small dream come true,” said Rune, who rose from outside the world’s top 100 to finish the 2022 season at world No.11. “(But) I have bigger dreams.”

The ambitious Rune’s high expectations are no secret.

“I want to win a Grand Slam this year,” he declared in January.

“To be able to be No. 1 in the world you need to be able to win Grand Slams.”

A fourth-round run at the Australian Open and a quarterfinal appearance at Roland Garros helped Rune consolidate his place as a top-10 star. His ranking peaked at world No.6 in May, making him the highest male Danish singles player in history.

Rune enjoyed a career-best run at Wimbledon too, reaching the quarterfinals.

Although Rune was awarded the peer-voted ATP Newcomer of the Year award in 2022, he is proving a divisive personality on tour.

The former top-ranked junior has been labelled by some as the new ‘bad boy’ of the sport.

“I don’t see myself as the bad boy at all,” Rune refuted. “I mean, I play with a lot of passion and energy when I’m on the court. I think many players do that. I don't know why that should be a bad boy thing, to play with energy on the court.”

His emotional on-court outbursts have irked several competitors, including fellow Scandinavian Casper Ruud and three-time major champion Stan Wawrinka.

“I didn’t send him a Christmas postcard and neither did he to me,” Ruud commented on their frosty relationship earlier this season. “I’m not sure we can say we’re too close.”

Rune can, at times, have a tumultuous relationship with crowds too. Not that he minds.

“I think it’s normal in life that some people love you and some people don’t,” he said.

“Everybody has different preferences of characters and players, and I respect that. That’s fine.

“If (crowds) are for me, it’s great. I just try to put on a fight every

Holger Rune Fast Facts

BORN: 29 April 2003, Gentofte, Denmark

LIVES: Monte Carlo, Monaco

HEIGHT: 188 cm

STARTED PLAYING: Age six

CURRENT ATP RANKING: No.6

CAREER-HIGH ATP SINGLES

RANKING: No.6 (May 2023)

ATP TITLES: 4 singles

CAREER PRIZE MONEY: $5,903,377

DID YOU KNOW? Holger names his mother, Aneke, and lifelong coach, Lars Christensen, as his biggest inspirations.

At 23 July 2023 time I step out there on the court. Do my best to win the match. Stay focused. I feel like to do everything I can to win the match is more important than what’s happening outside the court.”

Rune has earned the respect of Australia’s Nick Kyrgios, who believes he is “an exciting talent, super good guy as well”.

“He’s one of the best talents that we have in the sport. He’s got the ability to win multiple Grand Slams,” Kyrgios commented at this year’s Australian Open.