Page 15 - aruba-today-20230711

A15
SPORTS Tuesday 11 July 2023

Georgia Tech’s Christopher Eubanks stuns Tsitsipas at Wimbledon

By HOWARD FENDRICH mentally to try to beat
AP Tennis Writer him,” said Medvedev, who
WIMBLEDON, England (AP) won his only previous meet-
— Until about a week ago, ing against Eubanks, at the
even Chris Eubanks did not Miami Masters in March.
really believe he was ca- “He is not scared to make
pable of this sort of thing a bad shot and still to go
of beating the world’s best to the net and try to finish
tennis players at Wimble- the point there. Definitely a
don, of reaching the quar- little bit different from other
terfinals at any Grand Slam players.”
tournament, of winning This is just the ninth Grand
match after match after Slam tournament for Eu-
match on grass courts. banks, who previously
“I would show up to tour never had been past the
events saying, ‘Oh, can second round at one of
I get through a couple the sport’s most prestigious
rounds of here?’” he said events. After question-
during an interview the day ing his ability to contend
before play began at the for titles, Eubanks thought
All England Club. “Now I about pursuing television
genuinely can say, prob- commentary instead, and
ably for the first time, I’m Christopher Eubanks of the US falls after playing a return to Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in a men’s he’s worked on-air for Ten-
showing up to tournaments singles match on day eight of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Monday, July 10, nis Channel.
with higher expectations 2023. But he sure is having a ter-
and really wanting to do Associated Press rific time with a racket in his
well and put my best foot describe it,” said Eubanks, run to the trophy at Mal- accumulating 53 winners, hand these days.
forward. I’m no longer feel- who is from Atlanta and lorca, Spain, on July 1. That 16 more than Tsitsipas. “But And between matches,
ing OK just being there. I played college tennis at came on grass, which he right now, I think it’s my best too.
know that I belong.” Georgia Tech. decided he hated a month friend.” “I checked my phone. It’s
Does he ever. “I just think the entire ex- ago calling it “the stupidest He is now on a nine-match a bit nuts right now. It’s
Eubanks, a 6-foot-7, big- perience, all together, has surface” in a text he sent to winning streak after adding crazy to see my social me-
serving American making just been a whirlwind. It’s International Tennis Hall of the upset of the No. 5-seed- dia feed that I’m just used
his Wimbledon debut at been something that you Fame member Kim Clijsters ed Tsitsipas to an earlier to kind of going to (and

age 27 right after claim- dream about,” Eubanks after exiting in the second victory over No. 12 Cam now) seeing it’s a lot of me.
ing the first ATP title of his said. “I didn’t really know if round at a low-level ATP Norrie at the All England I’m like, ‘What is this? This is
career, reached the quar- that dream would actually Challenger Tour event. Club. Next comes another weird,’” Eubanks said. “But I
terfinals at a major for the come true. “Those words will never challenge, meeting No. 3 think I’ve been able to find
first time by stunning two- I’m sitting here in it now, so come out of my mouth for Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 a way to compartmental-
time Slam runner-up Stefa- it’s pretty cool.” the rest of my career. The U.S. Open champion, for a ize everything, realize this
nos Tsitsipas 3-6, 7-6 (4), 3-6, He is ranked a career-best grass and I, we’ve had berth in the semifinals. is a pretty big moment, but
6-4, 6-4 in a little over three 43rd right now and had a a very strenuous, I would “I know I need to be at my also saying, ‘This is a tennis
hours on Monday. win-loss record of merely say, relationship over the 100% and absolute best match that I need to play
“It’s surreal. I can’t really 6-10 before going on the years,” Eubanks said after physically, tennis-wise, and in a couple days.’”q

Carolina Panthers inducting Julius Peppers, Muhsin Muhammad

into Hall of Honor

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — 2010s. He was a three-time 85-yard touchdown pass in
The Carolina Panthers will All-Pro selection and ranks Super Bowl 38 against New
induct defensive end Julius fourth in NFL history with England, setting a record
Peppers and wide receiver 159 1/2 sacks, finishing in for the longest catch in Su-
Muhsin Muhammad into the top 10 in the league in per Bowl history.
the team’s Hall of Honor. sacks six times. He remains Both are Walter Payton
The inductions will take the only player in league Man of the Year award
place at Bank of America history with at least 150 and team winners.
Stadium during halftime of 10 interceptions. “Muhsin Muhammad and
the Oct. 29 game against Muhammad spent 11 of his Julius Peppers were draft-
the Houston Texans, the 14 NFL seasons with Caro- ed by the Panthers. Both
team announced Monday. lina and was chosen All-Pro became All-Pros here. Both
Peppers, the No. 2 pick in in 2004. He remains second came back to Carolina to
2002 draft, played 10 of in franchise history with 696 finish their careers. This is In this Dec. 24, 2017, file photo, Carolina Panthers’ Julius Peppers
his 17 NFL seasons with the receptions, 9,255 receiving another homecoming, a (90) looks on from the sidelines during the first half of an NFL
Panthers and was selected yards and 50 touchdowns permanent one,” Panthers football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Charlotte,
to the league’s All-Decade behind only Steve Smith owner David Tepper said in N.C., Dec. 24, 2017.
Team in the 2000s and Sr. Muhammad caught an a release.q Associated Press