Jannik Sinner, the reigning Australian Open champion and current world No. 2, faces an injury cloud as he arrives at Roland Garros. Having withdrawn from the Mutua Madrid Open and the Internazionali BNL d'Italia due to a right hip issue, Sinner's fitness will be a major concern for his title hopes.
His first-round opponent, Christopher Eubanks, is a familiar face, having lost to Sinner in straight sets at the 2022 US Open. However, Eubanks is a fan favorite and a former Tennis Channel analyst who has shown glimpses of his potential in the past.
Eubanks, a 6'7" American, is a two-time All-American from Georgia Tech. After struggling to make an impact on the ATP tour initially, he began to rise up the rankings in 2023. He earned his first Grand Slam main-draw win at the Australian Open and reached the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
In the summer of 2023, Eubanks won his first ATP title on grass in Mallorca and stunned Stefanos Tsitsipas en route to the Wimbledon quarterfinals. However, he has struggled to replicate that form this season, heading into Paris on a six-match losing streak.
The key to Eubanks' chances against Sinner will be his ability to test the Italian's movement on clay, a surface where Sinner has historically struggled. Eubanks' height and reach could be an advantage, and he will need to draw positive energy from the Roland Garros crowd if he hopes to pull off the upset.
The match between Sinner and Eubanks will take place on Court Suzanne-Lenglen on Monday.
Tags: #RolandGarros, #JannikSinner, #ChristopherEubanks, #Tennis, #Injury
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