It’s not quite Rocky vs. Apollo Creed, but for those watching Wimbledon this year and seeing Chris O’Connell’s name among the winners, it has a similar resonance.
O’Connell overcame Czech tennis star Jiří Veselý 6-3 7-5 6-4 overnight to become the last Australian standing at SW19.
The Australian underdog’s second-round win came on the same day Australian top player Alex De Minaur was outclassed by Italian star Mario Berrettini in straight sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.
Nick Kyrgios didn’t even make it to the main draw, sidelined with a wrist injury on the eve of The Championships.
Which now means Sydney’s unknown O’Connell is the last of the Australians left at Wimbledon, and he did it in the unprecedented way of playing four days in a row on the hallowed grass.
This was due to rain delays to his opening win, but his second round win over Veselý was much steeper.
He racked up some of the best tennis of his burgeoning late career to get the cash on Veselý, propelling him to his first Grand Slam third round appearance outside of Australia, as well as his highest payout ever.
Sydney’s Christopher O’Connell just played to defeat Czech star Jiri Vesely in straight sets and advance him to a Wimbledon third round match for the first time.
O’Connell was a study in concentration and is now the only Australian left at Wimbledon in the men’s or women’s singles draw.
The win netted him $163,000, more than enough to stay in the sport as he pursues his childhood dream of making the world top 50.
If he knocks down the vastly improved American Chris Eubanks in the third round, then he’ll sit right on the cusp. At this very moment he is ranked 73rd in the world.
Eubank’s meteoric rise up the tennis charts included the prized scalp of British hope Cam Norrie, beating him 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6(3) to set up the match against the Australian.
At her post-match press conference, she was beaming.
“Biggest win of my career, hands down, by far,” Eubanks said.
‘Considering the timing, considering the setting, who I was playing, where I played it. By far the biggest win of my career.
A disappointed Veselý congratulates a jubilant O’Connell after the Australian’s stunning 6-3 7-5 6-4 win
United States rising star Chris Eubanks (pictured) will be the man to face O’Connell in the third round after he defeated Britain’s Cam Norrie 6-3, 3-6, 6-2, 7- 6 (3
The same was true for O’Connell, who finds himself in uncharted waters at this depth in a foreign slam.
“This time last year, getting to the Top-100 was a big goal for me,” said O’Connell, who at 29 is in the best shape of his career.
“So to be sitting here a year later, looking at the Top 50, it’s amazing.
O’Connell, who is celebrating his best-matched result at a Grand Slam, having also reached the third round of the Australian Open last year, was confused as he recalled the varied and tortuous path that has seen him among the 32 Wimbledon finalists this year. .
“All the odd jobs I’ve ever worked,” he said.
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“Cleaning boats, working in a clothing store, coaching tennis, handing out flyers… I think about it and I’m like, ‘Wow, now I’m here.'”
The self-described ‘late developer’ enjoyed a breakout year and even tasted some success on clay, reaching the semi-finals at a tournament in Munich earlier this year also against the odds that included a win over top-5 ranked Alexander Zverev. first.
And now he also has a breakthrough on the grass.
His groundstrokes were amazing against Vesely, channeling American champion Andre Agassi chasing down every shot and returning it with venom.
A young Lionel Messi fan at Wimbledon gets Christopher Eubanks’ name autographed on his jersey, which likely meant more to the tennis star than the fan.
He gave notice that he belongs in this tournament and that Eubanks, skyrocketing up the standings, had better be on his game when they meet.
Just last week, on grass in Mallorca, Eubanks won his first ATP Tour singles title.
It was an impressive performance and he built on it for this Wimbledon win over a man who made it to the semi-finals here last year!
Ranked outside of the Top-100 until this April, and ranked 77th before Mallorca, Eubanks is now a career-high 43rd and rising.
That will stop if the Sydneysider produces the same ground game they did against Vesely.
Meanwhile, top seed Novak Djokovic is still alive in the tournament after knocking down aging Swiss star Stan Wawrinka in straight sets to comfortably earn a spot in the fourth round.
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