Does underdog Eubanks make the quarter-finals exciting?
Although this is Daniil Medvedev’s first appearance in the quarter-finals of the Wimbledon Championships at his fifth attempt, the Russian was to be reckoned with in the third section of the tournament tree in the absence of any notable competition. However, the fact that Christopher Eubanks followed the world number three into the round of the best eight players is a big surprise. Accordingly, there is little to suggest that Daniil Medvedev’s next win against Christopher Eubanks will be the American’s next
Nevertheless, the run of the current number 43 in the ATP world rankings is impressive. Even in the run-up to Wimbledon, Christopher Eubanks won the Majorca Championships. In conjunction with the four wins in London, he has now won nine singles matches in a row on grass. As a result, with Daniil Medvedev against Christopher Eubanks, the forecast for a completely smooth and unchallenged victory for the favoured Russian is quite risky.
To be sure, the 1.98 metre tall Daniil Medvedev regulates a lot via his strong service game. However, the Russian is not a born grass court player. Among his 20 singles titles on the ATP Tour, there is only one tournament victory on grass. Accordingly, the Muscovite could be vulnerable in his very first Wimbledon quarter-final. We therefore do not expect a short match.
In our eyes, the greatest value in a duel in which tiebreaks seem almost inevitable is the bet that more than 39.5 games are needed to determine the winner.
Daniil Medvedev – statistics & current form
Current position in the world ranking: 3
Position in the seedings: 3
The 27-year-old Russian Daniil Medvedev has already reached four Grand Slam tournament finals in his career and was also crowned champion in the final of the 2021 US Open with an outright 3-0 victory over Novak Djokovic.
In addition, there are numerous other Major titles. In 2020, the Moscow native became world champion. He collected six more titles at Masters tournaments. Only at this year’s Wimbledon Championships did he always reach the last 16.
Five tournament victories in the calendar year 2023
This year, however, nothing was burning in the round of the best 16 athletes because his opponent Jiri Lehecka had to throw in the towel due to a blister on his foot after trailing 0:2 in a set. Daniil Medvedev has only lost one set in the tournament so far.
Overall, the Russian’s four largely easy wins at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club give him a year-to-date tally of 45 wins from 53 completed singles matches in the full year 2023, in which he has already won a staggering five tournaments – tied for the best on the ATP Tour with Carlos Alcaraz.
Only five service games surrendered en route to the quarter-finals
In view of the Moscow player’s impressive year so far, the odds are now very much in favour of Daniil Medvedev against Christopher Eubanks, who also won his only meeting with the American at the Miami Masters 2023 outright 2-0.
Once again, the Russian’s almost undefendable service could be half the battle. Daniil Medvedev scored 97% of his points on his first serve in the last 16 against Jiri Lehecka and has surrendered just five service games in four matches.
Christopher Eubanks – Statistics & current form
Current world ranking: 43
Position in the seedings: unseeded
The 27-year-old American Christopher Eubanks has been a tennis professional since 2015 and made it to the main draw of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career in 2017. So far, however, his appearances on the big tennis stages have been marked by only moderate success.
In his eight Grand Slam appearances to date, the man from Atlanta has managed just two victories. He has yet to play in any Masters tournaments outside the United States, although he did reach the quarter-finals of a Masters tournament for the first time this year in Miami.
The first Grand Slam quarter-final of Eubanks’ career
Even in Miami, the American clashed with his current opponent Daniil Medvedev, against whom the journey ended 0-2. Now Christopher Eubanks will be looking to return the favour and further crown his career-best run so far at the Wimbledon Championships.
After three strong matches at the start, in which he eliminated a local hero, Cameron Norrie (ATP 12), the 27-year-old even managed a 3:2 comeback victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas (ATP 5) in the last 16. It was the American’s first-ever career win against a top-10 player.
Eight break points saved in the last 16
With this, Eubanks also prolonged the strong run that started at the preparation tournament in Mallorca. For the first time in his career, the American won an ATP Tour tournament at the Mallorca Championships. This brings his total to nine consecutive singles victories on grass.
This momentum also suggests that our prediction of a long and hard-fought quarter-final against Christopher Eubanks is correct, in which the American will have to improve on his own serve. In the last round of 16, he offered Stefanos Tsitsipas 13 chances to break, and Tsitsipas only managed to take five of them. Against a mostly ice-cold Daniil Medvedev, he definitely must not offer so many again.
Daniil Medvedev – Christopher Eubanks Direct comparison / H2H balance
Head to head: 1:0
The first and only meeting between the two athletes so far took place in the quarter-finals of this year’s Miami Masters. On the hard court in the Sunshine State, Daniil Medvedev won 2-0 against Christopher Eubanks (6-3 and 7-5).
Daniil Medvedev – Christopher Eubanks Tip
The betting odds on Daniil Medvedev against Christopher Eubanks are clearly in favour of the Russian, who clearly favours the hard court and only won a tournament on grass in the summer of 2021. For both players, this will be the first Wimbledon quarter-final of their careers. The momentum is also on the side of the American, who has won nine straight singles matches on grass.
Although we do believe that the more experienced Russian will win in the end. That he will make short work of the American, however, does not seem too likely to us. Consequently, our prediction for Daniil Medvedev against Christopher Eubanks is a match in which at least 40 games are needed before the winner is decided.
