Podcast Summary: Served with Andy Roddick
Episode: QUICK SERVED: Chris Eubanks Announces Retirement
Release Date: November 17, 2025
Host: Jon Wertheim (“JW”)
Guest: Chris Eubanks (Professional tennis player & broadcaster)
Contributors: Techie Sean, Producer Mike
Main Theme / Purpose
A special “Quick Served” episode, in which Chris Eubanks joins the show to announce he is stepping away from the ATP Tour and shifting to a full-time broadcasting career. The episode dives deep into the “evolution” of his decision, emotional challenges of leaving professional tennis, why the broadcast booth felt right, and his plans (and mindset) for the future.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Chris Eubanks Announces His Retirement / “Evolution”
— [01:53 – 02:54]
- Eubanks reveals he’s publicly stepping back from professional tennis, preferring to call it “evolving” rather than “retiring,” echoing Serena Williams’ sentiment.
- He’ll pursue full-time tennis broadcasting for at least the next year.
- Shares excitement and nerves about the transition and the happiness his new path brings.
Notable Quote:
“I am not, I guess I’m publicly announcing that I am... I feel like Serena right now. I don’t want to say the word retiring... It’s like a weird word, evolving. But I am evolving. Retiring. I am taking a step back from playing and will for the next at least year pursue broadcast full time. And I’m super excited.”
— Chris Eubanks [01:53]
2. How He Reached the Decision
— [02:54 – 08:17]
- Eubanks outlines his 2024 season: started strong but didn’t get results, leading to frustration and self-doubt.
- Emotionally describes how lack of on-court results affected his confidence and started impacting who he was off court.
- Notices increasing praise for his broadcasting—more than for his playing—prompting self-reflection.
Notable Quote:
“For whatever reason, one reason or another, the results aren’t coming. And the hardest thing... is not focusing on the results, focusing on the process. And that’s where my focus was. Well, you can only focus on the process so long without getting the results before you start to kind of second guess and question a lot.”
— Chris Eubanks [03:54]
3. Internal Conflict: Loving Tennis, Struggling With Playing
— [08:17 – 11:14]
- Explains the odd duality: unhappy as a player, but “rocket ship” happy in the broadcasting world.
- Confides that he never lost his passion for the sport itself—just for competing as a player.
- The tension between others telling him “I love you broadcasting!” and his identity as a player.
Notable Quote:
“While I wasn’t necessarily happy on court, I was really happy doing broadcast. Sitting in a room with people and talking tennis... That’s what I really enjoyed. So I knew that what I was feeling wasn’t necessarily if the sport itself... It was more so my own internal conflict and my relationship with tennis.”
— Chris Eubanks [08:49]
4. Handling Guilt and the Tennis Travel Schedule
— [11:14 – 16:28]
- Addresses whether he felt guilt about “sacrificing” tournaments to do broadcasting assignments. Says no—he planned his tournament schedule carefully with his team.
- Recalls working hard to keep tennis a priority even during his Grand Slam broadcasting weeks.
Notable Quote:
“When these things came up about opportunities to do Australia and have to stay another week, I formulated the rest of my schedule based on, okay, I may be sacrificing a week here, so I have to be willing to play an extra week here... My coaches knew, we were all on the same page... so never really came up as an issue for me.”
— Chris Eubanks [12:58]
5. Processing the Emotional Landscape of Stepping Away
— [16:28 – 20:52]
- Chris describes immense gratitude instead of regret or sadness: recounts his underdog origin, achievements, and reframes what a “successful” career means.
- Self-reflects as that “kid in Atlanta” who’d be amazed at how far he got in tennis.
Notable Quote:
“I had to take a step back and say, would I continue to play because I feel like I’m supposed to... or am I doing it to prove to other people that I can get back there? If that’s the reason... that’s not a good enough reason... When you take a step back and look at the whole picture, I’ve been far more blessed than I could have ever dreamed. So it shifted to happiness.”
— Chris Eubanks [16:28]
6. Transitioning from Player to Broadcaster: New Metrics, New Mindset
— [20:52 – 23:35]
- Discusses the challenge of no longer measuring himself by match results or rankings.
- Intends to prioritize feedback from trusted industry people, and to chase the internal feeling of a good broadcast (not just audience numbers).
Notable Quote:
“For so long, my idea of success and failure was predicated on the score... Broadcast is not like that. It’s totally up to the viewer and totally up to the producers... The biggest thing for me is just going to be chasing that feeling and just knowing, okay, that felt good.”
— Chris Eubanks [21:13]
7. Goals and Immediate Plans for Broadcasting
— [23:35 – 25:55]
- Hopes to be on-site for at least some Grand Slams, but won’t be on every week for every tournament.
- Intent on devoting serious energy to being great both as a studio analyst and on live match commentary.
- Wants to bring creativity to tennis broadcasting, and remain physically ready to hit at tournaments.
Notable Quote:
“I kind of want to make it to where when you do see me, you see how much I care. You see the effort that I’m putting into it and hopefully it’s going to be a good viewing experience... prepping and just studying the craft. Watching matches, being a lot more mindful not just of tennis matches, but sports broadcasts in general.”
— Chris Eubanks [24:24]
8. Considering Opportunities Beyond Tennis Broadcasts
— [25:55 – 28:25]
- On being encouraged to think beyond tennis: Eubanks expresses interest but also humility and caution.
- He admires those who branch out (e.g., Michael Strahan) and wants any non-tennis opportunity to be intentional, not opportunistic.
Notable Quote:
“I have so much respect for people who do it that I don’t want to feel like, oh, I can just jump in... It’s like interviewing is a skill, all that stuff. I don’t want to...”
— Chris Eubanks [26:38]
9. Reframing Legacy and Next Chapter
— [28:25 – End]
- JW suggests that Chris’ tennis journey opened doors to lifelong involvement in the sport.
- Chris agrees, stating each stage of life is about elevation, gratitude, and building toward the next phase.
Notable Quotes:
“How about proposing this to the 13 or 14 year old version of yourself? I became good enough at tennis that I was able to create a bridge to the next 20 or 30 years of your life... That is something to be very proud of.”
— JW [29:14]
“Each stage of life is supposed to elevate you and lead you to the next, to the next... putting my dad putting a racket in my hand at two years old... it leads to the next thing. And now... this moment has now gifted me an opportunity to remain in the sport for as long as I want.”
— Chris Eubanks [29:38]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Stepping Away:
"I don’t want to say the word retiring... It’s like just a weird word, evolving. But I am evolving. Retiring. I am. Moral of the story is I’m taking a step back from playing and will for the next at least year pursue broadcast full time."
— Chris Eubanks [01:53] -
On Internal Struggles:
"You can only focus on the process so long without getting the results before you start to kind of second guess and question a lot."
— Chris Eubanks [03:54] -
On Identity Crisis:
"People have been talking about this broadcast stuff for a while now, and it’s something that makes me happy. There’s that internal conflict of, do I continue to play tennis... or do I want to make a decision that’s going to be in the best interest of my own happiness and me as a person?"
— Chris Eubanks [10:38] -
On Measuring Success Off Court:
"For so long my, my idea of success and failure was predicated on the score... and broadcast is not like that. It's totally up to the viewer... The biggest thing for me is just going to be chasing that feeling and just knowing, okay, that felt good."
— Chris Eubanks [21:13] -
On His Unexpected Journey:
"I never traveled for international for a tournament. I never played a match on clay until Roland Garros in 2018. Like, I didn’t do fitness until my freshman year of college... You were so fortunate that you even had a sniff of what you’ve been able to accomplish."
— Chris Eubanks [17:18]
Key Timestamps
- [01:53] – Chris Eubanks officially announces he is “evolving” (retiring) from professional tennis.
- [03:29] – Chris details the challenges and losses of his past season; how he started reflecting on his future.
- [08:49] – Describes the interplay between tennis career and broadcasting: joy in one, struggle in the other.
- [16:28] – Chris talks gratitude for his journey and the shift in mindset.
- [21:13] – On changing his idea of success from match results to broadcasting quality.
- [23:35] – Outlines immediate plans and long-term broadcasting goals.
- [26:38] – On considering opportunities outside tennis and the humility it requires.
- [29:14] – Discussion: using tennis to build a bridge to a long future in sports media.
Tone & Language
- The conversation is candid, supportive, and self-reflective.
- Chris is open about his internal challenges, grateful for his experiences, and enthusiastic about his next steps.
- The hosts and co-hosts are encouraging, occasionally humorous, and show genuine respect for Chris’s decision.
Quick Recap
This episode captures a turning point in Chris Eubanks’ life and career: a thoughtful, grateful transition from tennis pro to full-time broadcaster. Listeners gain insight into the mental and emotional difficulties pro athletes face, the excitement of a new chapter, and the importance of redefining success. The episode’s tone is warm and optimistic, with Eubanks’ story offering inspiration well beyond the court.