Chris Eaton (tennis)

Last updated

Chris Eaton
Country (sports) Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Great Britain
Residence East Horsley Surrey, England, UK
Born (1987-11-27) 27 November 1987 (age 37)
Guildford, Surrey, England
Height6 ft 2 in (188 cm) [1]
Turned pro2007
Retired2012
PlaysRight-handed (one-handed backhand)
Prize money $169,080
Singles
Career record2–2 (in ATP Tour and Grand Slam main draws, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 317 (15 June 2009)
Grand Slam singles results
Wimbledon 2R (2008)
Doubles
Career record3–5 (ATP Tour and Grand Slam main draws, and in Davis Cup)
Career titles0
Highest rankingNo. 147 (2 May 2011)
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon 3R (2010)
Team competitions
Davis Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group I 1R (2009)
Last updated on: 17 June 2021.

Christopher Philip Eaton (born 27 November 1987) is a British retired tennis player. He reached his career-high singles ranking of World No. 317 in June 2009, and his career-high doubles ranking of World No. 147 in May 2011. Eaton is currently the assistant coach at Wake Forest University.

Contents

In February 2009, Eaton played what was then the longest tennis match in history, lasting 6 hours and 40 minutes, eventually beating James Ward 21–19 in the fifth set. This was a playoff match to decide the Davis Cup team, but it was not sanctioned by the ATP, so was not an official record, and it was later broken. [2]

Early and personal life

He learned to play tennis at Reed's School. [3] He was nicknamed the "Eaton Rifle" due to his big serve. [4]

From age 8 to 16, he was coached by Justin Sherring.

Junior career

Eaton reached a career high of No. 97 in April 2005 at age 17. In his only singles main draw junior grand slam match, and his final match as a junior, he lost to Donald Young at Wimbledon in 2005, 1–6, 5–7. [5]

Senior career

2007

Eaton's best results in 2007 were two Futures championships in doubles in Israel and Great Britain, and a singles semifinal appearance in Israel F4 in November, where he beat No. 839 Amir Hadad. He finished 2007 ranked No. 656 in singles play.

2008

Eaton made little singles progress in the first 4 months of the year. However, he had much success in doubles, making the doubles finals of 5 Futures and winning two of them.

In June, he had a breakthrough singles win in the 2nd round of qualifying at Nottingham, beating his first top-100 opponent, No. 90 Guillermo García López, before losing to No. 111 Vince Spadea in the final qualifying round. He followed that up the next week as a wild card by qualifying in singles for the Wimbledon Championships, beating No. 140 Mikhail Kukushkin, No. 206 Jan Minář, and No. 162 Olivier Patience, scoring 32 aces in that match. He was also given a wild card into the main doubles draw with Alexander Slabinsky.

In the Wimbledon Championships first round he beat Serbia's Boris Pasanski 6–3 7–6(8–6) 6–4. [6] He then faced Russia's Dmitry Tursunov, the number 25 seed in the second round on Court One, his first show-court appearance. However, he could not continue his winning streak and Eaton lost 6–7(2), 2–6, 4–6. [7] As a result of his performance at Wimbledon, Eaton's ranking rose to a career high of 386. This made him eligible for Challenger events.

2009

Having played little more than a few Futures at the start of the year, Eaton was thrust into play-offs, between six British tennis hopefuls, designed by John Lloyd to help pick the two singles players to represent Great Britain in the Euro/Africa Zone Group I tie against Ukraine.

Eaton started well, defeating Alexander Slabinsky 6–4 6–4 2–6 7–6 (7–5). He then beat James Ward 6–3 6–2 6–7 (3–7) 2–6 21–19 in a gruelling match lasting six hours and 40 minutes, [2] making it the longest match in history prior to the epic Isner-Mahut match at the 2010 Wimbledon Championships. Lloyd had decided he had seen enough, and chose Eaton and Joshua Goodall as the two players to represent Britain alongside Colin Fleming and Ross Hutchins.

Eaton lost his first Davis Cup match 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–4 to Ukrainian number 1 Sergiy Stakhovsky but managed to restore some pride to Team GB, who were on the verge of a whitewash before Eaton managed to beat Illya Marchenko 6–3, 4–6, 7–6 in the remaining dead rubber. Despite putting in one of the better performances by British players other than Andy Murray in the Davis Cup recently, Eaton didn't appear in the plans of captain John Lloyd for forthcoming fixtures.

2010

At Wimbledon Eaton and doubles partner Dominic Inglot defeated the defending champions Daniel Nestor and Nenad Zimonjić in the second round, [8] to achieve his best Slam result with a third round appearance.

Eaton began playing touchtennis as a pastime against other former professional tennis players as well as current park players and rank amateurs. He has won one title and hosted a weekly tennis phone in show on the sports website. [9]

Eaton played his last match in the 2012 Wimbledon qualifying second round. He joined the Wake Forest men's tennis staff as an assistant coach in the 2016–17 season.

He coaches doubles player Henri Kontinen. [10]

ATP Challenger and ITF Futures finals

Singles: 4 (3–1)

Legend
ATP Challenger (0–0)
ITF Futures (3–1)
Finals by surface
Hard (2–0)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (0–0)
Carpet (1–1)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1–0Jan 2010Great Britain F1, Glasgow FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Baker 6–4, 6–4
Loss1–1Jan 2011Germany F3, Kaarst FuturesCarpet Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jan Mertl 5–7, 4–6
Win2–1Apr 2011Switzerland F3, Taverne FuturesCarpet Flag of Germany.svg Peter Torebko 6–3, 6–4
Win3–1Jul 2011Great Britain F11, Chiswick FuturesHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Benjamin Mitchell 7–5, 6–1

Doubles: 38 (23–15)

Legend
ATP Challenger (1–1)
ITF Futures (22–14)
Finals by surface
Hard (23–10)
Clay (0–0)
Grass (2–3)
Carpet (1–2)
ResultW–L   Date   TournamentTierSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Loss0–1Mar 2006China F4, Jiangmen FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andrew Kennaugh Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Yu Xinyuan
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg Zeng Shaoxuan
4–6, 5–7
Loss0–2Jun 2006Turkey F2, Istanbul FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Andrew Kennaugh Flag of Israel.svg Victor Kolik
Flag of Israel.svg Ishay Hadash
3–6, 5–7
Win1–2Mar 2007Israel F2, Ramat HaSharon FuturesHard Flag of Israel.svg Amit Inbar Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Roman Vögeli
Flag of Germany.svg Alexander Satschko
7–5, 6–2
Win2–2Aug 2007Great Britain F14, Wrexham FuturesHard Flag of France.svg Pierrick Ysern Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Edward Corrie
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tom Rushby
6–1, 6–2
Loss2–3Jan 2008Great Britain F2, Sheffield FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Ken Skupski Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Jiří Krkoška
Flag of India.svg Purav Raja
6–7(7–9), 6–7(4–7)
Win3–3Feb 2008Croatia F1, Zagreb FuturesHard Flag of Estonia.svg Mait Künnap Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Pierre-Ludovic Duclos
Flag of Russia.svg Denis Matsukevich
2–6, 7–5, [10–8]
Win4–3Mar 2008Portugal F5, Lagos FuturesHard Flag of Australia (converted).svg Carsten Ball Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Neil Bamford
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall
6–2, 6–4
Loss4–4Mar 2008Portugal F6, Albufeira FuturesHard Flag of Israel.svg Amir Weintraub Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Neil Bamford
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall
3–6, 4–6
Loss4–5Apr 2008Russia F1, MoscowFuturesCarpet Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alexander Slabinsky Flag of Russia.svg Sergei Demekhine
Flag of Russia.svg Konstantin Kravchuk
1–6, 2–6
Loss4–6Sep 2008France F13, Bagnères-de-Bigorre FuturesHard Flag of France.svg Pierrick Ysern Flag of France.svg Olivier Charroin
Flag of Latvia.svg Andis Juška
5–7, 4–6
Win5–6Jan 2009Great Britain F1, Glasgow FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Baker Flag of France.svg Romain Jouan
Flag of France.svg Pierrick Ysern
7–5, 6–0
Win6–6Aug 2009Great Britain F10, Ilkley FuturesGrass Flag of Austria.svg Martin Fischer Flag of Australia (converted).svg Sadik Kadir
Flag of India.svg Purav Raja
7–5, 3–6, [10–6]
Loss6–7Aug 2009Great Britain F11, Ottershaw FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Jamie Baker Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Bradshaw
6–4, 6–7(2–7), [3–10]
Loss6–8Aug 2009India F7, New Delhi FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sean Thornley Flag of India.svg Ashutosh Singh
Flag of India.svg Vishnu Vardhan
3–6, 7–6(7–5), [8–10]
Win7–8Sep 2009India F9, New Delhi FuturesHard Flag of India.svg Rohan Gajjar Flag of India.svg Ashutosh Singh
Flag of India.svg Vishnu Vardhan
7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–3)
Win8–8Sep 2009Great Britain F13, Wrexham FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of South Africa.svg Andrew Anderson
Flag of Ireland.svg Colin O'Brien
3–6, 6–3, [10–6]
Win9–8Sep 2009Great Britain F14, Nottingham FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Matthew Illingworth
6–3, 6–4
Win10–8Oct 2009Great Britain F15, Glasgow FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Daniel Cox
Flag of Belarus.svg Uladzimir Ignatik
6–0, 7–6(7–5)
Win11–8Jan 2010Great Britain F1, Glasgow FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of France.svg Olivier Charroin
Flag of France.svg Alexandre Renard
4–6, 6–3, [10–2]
Loss11–9Jan 2010Great Britain F2, Sheffield FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of France.svg Olivier Charroin
Flag of Latvia.svg Andis Juška
2–6, 4–6
Win12–9Feb 2010Bosnia & Herzegovina F2, Sarajevo FuturesCarpet Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of Ireland.svg Colin O'Brien
Flag of Ireland.svg James McGee
walkover
Loss12–10Jul 2010Great Britain F10, Frinton FuturesGrass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tim Bradshaw
Flag of the United States.svg James Ludlow
4–6, 7–6(9–7), [7–10]
Win13–10Jan 2011Great Britain F1, Glasgow FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alexander Slabinsky Flag of Finland.svg Harri Heliövaara
Flag of Finland.svg Juho Paukku
6–7(3–7), 6–1, [10–2]
Win14–10Jan 2011Great Britain F2, Sheffield FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall Flag of France.svg Olivier Charroin
Flag of France.svg Vincent Stouff
6–1, 6–4
Loss14–11Jan 2011Germany F3, Kaarst FuturesCarpet Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Alexander Slabinsky Flag of Germany.svg Marcel Zimmermann
Flag of Germany.svg Kevin Krawietz
3–6, 5–7
Win15–11Mar 2011Great Britain F3, Tipton FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Miles Bugby
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Marcus Willis
6–2, 6–2
Win16–11Mar 2011Great Britain F4, Bath FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Michael Lammer
Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg Alexander Sadecky
6–3, 6–2
Loss16–12May 2011 Leon, MexicoChallengerHard Flag of Germany.svg Andre Begemann Flag of the United States.svg Rajeev Ram
Flag of the United States.svg Bobby Reynolds
3–6, 2–6
Win17–12Jul 2011Great Britain F8, Manchester FuturesGrass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall Flag of Tunisia.svg Malek Jaziri
Flag of France.svg Albano Olivetti
6–4, 7–6(7–3)
Loss17–13Jul 2011Great Britain F9, Ilkley FuturesGrass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sean Thornley
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Rice
7–6(7–2), 3–6, [7–10]
Loss17–14Jul 2011Great Britain F10, Frinton FuturesGrass Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Josh Goodall Flag of France.svg Julien Maes
Flag of France.svg Fabrice Martin
5–7, 6–7(2–7)
Win18–14Sep 2011USA F24, Costa Mesa FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Neal Skupski Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Daniel Cox
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Adam Hubble
6–3, 6–3
Win19–14Oct 2011USA F26, Austin FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Edward Corrie Flag of the United States.svg Benjamin Rogers
Flag of Australia (converted).svg John-Patrick Smith
7–6(8–6), 6–2
Win20–14Jan 2012Great Britain F1, Glasgow FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sean Thornley
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Rice
7–5, 6–2
Win21–14Jan 2012Great Britain F2, Sheffield FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sean Thornley
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Rice
6–3, 7–5
Loss21–15Jan 2012Great Britain F3, Birkenhead FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Lewis Burton Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sean Thornley
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Rice
2–6, 3–6
Win22–15Feb 2012 Dallas, United StatesChallengerHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of the United States.svg Nicholas Monroe
Flag of the United States.svg Jack Sock
6–7(6–8), 6–4, [19–17]
Win23–15Mar 2012Great Britain F4, Tipton FuturesHard Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Dominic Inglot Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Sean Thornley
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg David Rice
6–3, 6–4

References

  1. ITF Men's profile
  2. 1 2 "Chris Eaton shows stamina with epic Davis Cup play-off win". Telegraph. 25 February 2009.
  3. Slot, Owen (26 June 2008). "Chris Eaton's school of hard knocks pays off". The Times . Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  4. "Eaton devoured by steely Tursunov as ace 'rifle' misfires". Belfast Telegraph. 10 July 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2020.
  5. ITF Junior Activity for Eaton, itftennis.com; accessed 11 July 2016.
  6. "Chris Eaton in stunning Wimbledon win against Boris Pasanski". Times. 25 June 2008.
  7. "Eaton undone by classy Tursunov". BBC Sport. 26 June 2008.
  8. "Wimbledon 2010: Chris Eaton and Dominic Inglot triuimph". BBC Sport. 26 June 2010.
  9. Profile, touchtennis.com; accessed 11 July 2016.
  10. Jones, Chris (16 July 2017). "Jamie Murray and Heather Watson cross swords in mixed doubles final". The Times . Retrieved 9 October 2020.