Monday, July 11, 2011
The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com
11l
King earns on-the-job training at Davis Cup
Tennis sensation
helps Roddick, Davis
Cup team prepare
By STEVEN BRAID
Daily Sports Writer
After a week of practicing with
the United States Davis Cup team
down in Austin, Texas, sophomore
Evan King could muster up just
three words that could describe his
experience.
"It's been unbelievable," King
said.
Selected as a practice player to
help the team prepare for its match
against Spain during the Davis Cup
quarterfinals, which ran July 8-10,
King spent the last nine days down
in Austin practicing with Ameri-
ca's best tennis players: Andy Rod-
dick, Mardy Fish, Bob Bryan and
Mike Bryan.
King, who ended the season
as the No. 17 ranked player in the
nation, finished with a singles
record of 30-9 and a doubles mark
of 20-14.
He capped his season off with a
runto the Round of 16 atthe NCAA
Individual Championships, earn-
ing ITA
the proc
Jay B
Men'sZ
Stanfor
practice
team be
the two
handed
tennis.
" (
th
p
un
The
joined b
ranked(
Whil
practice
with gi
the bes
He alter
accurat
Verdasc
two left
All-American honors in peted for Spain. In addition, King
ess. received an opportunity to prac-
Berger, the head of USTA tice with both Roddick and Fish
Tennis, selected King and while he also spent a fair amount
d junior Bradley Klahn as of his time as a doubles practice
players for the Davis Cup partner for the Bryan brothers, the
cause he felt thatthey were No. 1-ranked doubles team in the
best American-born left- world.
players currently in college It was a humbling experience,
and King relished the chance to
practice with some of the best ten-
nis players in the world.
He tried to take advantage of
geeing) how his time down in Austin to try to
improve and learn from the world-
Ley go about class athletes.
"Everyday, being with them on
ractice, it's the court and off the court," King
said. "Just seeing how they prepare
Aje\Table." and how they go about each prac-
tice.
"I'm pickingup everything, from
their practice habits to their eating
two left-handers were habits. Just seeing how they pre-
by Steve Johnson, the top- pare for each one of their matches
college player. and how they go about practice, it's
e he enjoyed his time as unbelievable."
partner, King was tasked Despite spending the majority
ving the Davis Cup team of his time with the four profes-
t preparation as possible. sionals on the courts hitting tennis
rnated his game slightly to balls, he did get to enjoy some time
ely impersonate Fernando off the courts.
o and Feliciano Lopez, He got to spend some time at
-handed players who com- Roddick's house with all the play-
Junior Evan King played against Andy Roddick, Mardy Fish and the Bryan duo.
ers, and even took part in a hot dog
eating contest with his fellow col-
leagues.
"They're normal guys just like
anyone of us," King said. "They're
funny people. They joke around
and they enjoy their time. It's really
been an amazing experience hang-
ing around them."
While the United States' per-
formance against Spain this past
weekend in the Davis Cup is one
that most will try to forget - the
Americans dropped a 3-1 decision
to Spain - the Bryan brothers won
their doubles point. Needless to
say, Evan King will not quickly for-
get this experience.
"It's something that I will never
forget for the rest of my life," King
said.
And this time, just this once,
Evan King was content with just
being a practice player.
Piccolo
Clarinet
Alto Saxophone
Tenor Saxophone
Trumpet
Horn
Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
Percussion
Flag
Twirter
Michigan Marching Band
Open Auditions During Orientation
Auditions start at 3:00 PM
Required music audition will be held at Revelli
Hall on the final day of your Orientation Session.
Audition will consist of:
" one chromatic scale two octaves
to demonstrate range
* one minute of prepared music
solo or etudes that have contrasting style
(demonstrate beauty of tone, phrasing & musicality,
and technical ability)
Call 764-0582 for more information
W.