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.