Former world No. 29 Christopher Eubanks admits saying goodbye to tennis is a "weird feeling," but also reveals that he simply reached the point where he realized that he "could not find any reason" to continue with his career, and that's why he decided to end his pro tennis journey.
This week, Eubanks shared what looked like a reflection on his career but also a retirement announcement. Since the American enjoyed his career-best season only two years ago and turned 29 in May, some wondered whether he was actually retiring. But during his appearance on Andy Roddick's podcast, the 2023 Mallorca champion confirmed that his career was indeed over at 29.
"Yeah, it was a weird transition," Eubanks admitted on the Served with Andy Roddick.
Eubanks: I wasn't chasing anything anymore and I couldn't find a reason to keep going
"I got to a moment where I asked myself, 'Am I playing just to play? Am I playing for the money? Am I playing because people around me expect me to? Or am I still chasing something?' And I realized I wasnt chasing anything anymore. I didnt feel like I was moving toward a goal," the 2023 Mallorca champion added.
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Eubanks spent the majority of his first couple of years on the Tour playing at the Challenger level. But then, in 2023, he made his first real breakthrough, which started with a Miami Masters quarterfinal showing and breaking into the top-100 for the first time in his career. A few months later, the American also lifted his maiden ATP title in Mallorca and reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Wimbledon.
Then, Eubanks' rise abruptly stopped and suffering a wrist injury at the 2024 Paris Olympics basically sealed his fate. The American mostly played on the Challenger Tour this year and found himself ranked at No. 266 in the world at the time of his retirement announcement.
"By the time I hurt my wrist at the Olympics and couldnt hit a ball for almost five weeks, my brain snapped into TV mode. I didnt miss tennis. As great as tennis has been for me, I didnt miss it. Even when I asked myself over the years whether I still wanted it, I always found some reason to keep going. This time, I couldnt find a reason," Eubanks said.
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