Former world No. 29 Christopher Eubanks admits saying goodbye to tennis is a "bizarre feeling," but additionally reveals that he merely reached the purpose the place he realized that he "couldn’t discover any cause" to proceed together with his profession, and that's why he determined to finish his professional tennis journey.
This week, Eubanks shared what appeared like a mirrored image on his profession but additionally a retirement announcement. Because the American loved his career-best season solely two years in the past and turned 29 in Could, some puzzled whether or not he was truly retiring. However throughout his look on Andy Roddick's podcast, the 2023 Mallorca champion confirmed that his profession was certainly over at 29.
"Yeah, it was a bizarre transition," Eubanks admitted on the Served with Andy Roddick.
Eubanks: I wasn't chasing something anymore and I couldn't discover a cause to maintain going
"I bought to a second the place I requested myself, 'Am I enjoying simply to play? Am I enjoying for the cash? Am I enjoying as a result of individuals round me count on me to? Or am I nonetheless chasing one thing?' And I noticed I wasn’t chasing something anymore. I didn’t really feel like I used to be transferring towards a purpose," the 2023 Mallorca champion added.
Eubanks spent nearly all of his first couple of years on the Tour enjoying on the Challenger degree. However then, in 2023, he made his first actual breakthrough, which began with a Miami Masters quarterfinal exhibiting and breaking into the top-100 for the primary time in his profession. A number of months later, the American additionally lifted his maiden ATP title in Mallorca and reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon.
Then, Eubanks' rise abruptly stopped and struggling a wrist damage on the 2024 Paris Olympics principally sealed his destiny. The American principally performed on the Challenger Tour this yr and located himself ranked at No. 266 on the planet on the time of his retirement announcement.
"By the point I harm my wrist on the Olympics and couldn’t hit a ball for nearly 5 weeks, my mind snapped into TV mode. I didn’t miss tennis. As nice as tennis has been for me, I didn’t miss it. Even after I requested myself through the years whether or not I nonetheless wished it, I at all times discovered some cause to maintain going. This time, I couldn’t discover a cause," Eubanks stated.
