May 20, 2015
Waco, Texas – Georgia Tech freshman Christopher Eubanks advanced to the second round of the NCAA Singles Championship Wednesday by defeating Georgia’s Nathan Pasha in straight sets at the Hurd Tennis Center at Baylor University.
NCAA Championship Central (updated results and bracket)
Eubanks, listed No. 53 in the most recent Intercollegiate Tennis Association rankings, earned his second victory this year over the 31st-ranked Pasha, 7-5, 6-3, in the opening round and moved on to face Southern California’s Yannick Hanfmann, a top-16 seed, who defeated Oklahoma’s Dane Webb, 6-3, 6-1.
“Chris played like an upperclassman today,” said Tech coach Kenny Thorne. “He played aggressively but under control. Nathan Pasha is a very good player and has had a great career at Georgia. It was a good win for Chris, and now he has a great match to look forward to tomorrow.”
The two Atlanta natives went back and forth in the opening set before Eubanks broke the Georgia senior at 5-5, then held to win it. Eubanks broke Pasha’s serve three times in the second set, at 1-1, 2-2 and again at 5-3 to win the match.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous,” Eubanks said. “I had to do something to try to really get my legs going, but as the match progressed, I began to get my footing. In the second set, it was important to capitalize after I broke his serve, keep the pressure on him through the entire set.”
The former Westlake High School star, who made the All-Atlantic Coast Conference team as a freshman, improved to 25-20 overall this year, including an 11-8 mark in tournament play. He played at the top of the Yellow Jackets’ lineup in dual matches all spring, posting a 14-12 record as the No. 1 or 2 player in the order. He has beaten six nationally-ranked players, including five among the nation’s top 40 in the ITA rankings.
Among his singles victories were No. 37 Andreas Bjerrehus of Virginia Tech in the ACC Tournament, No. 5 Seb Stiefelmeyer of Louisville, No. 11 Austin Smith, and No. 69 Amerigo Contini of Virginia Tech during the regular season. Pasha was ranked 15th the first time Eubanks defeated him in January.
Tech has had at least one individual in the NCAA singles championship every year since 2007, with the exception of last year.
ABOUT GEORGIA TECH MEN’S TENNIS
Georgia Tech’s men’s tennis team is in its 17th year under head coach Kenny Thorne. The Yellow Jackets have played in the NCAA Championship 15 times. Connect with Georgia Tech Men’s Tennis on social media by liking their Facebook page, or following on Twitter (@GT_MTEN). For more information on Tech men’s tennis, visit Ramblinwreck.com.
