I had seen 15-year-old Evan King play a number of times, however, it was a match that he lost that made me really take notice. It was at the USTA National Boys 18 Team Championship this summer. Evan and Matthew Kandath played a marathon that ended in the latter's win, 2-6,7-6(7/4),19-17 (they were playing what should have been a 10 point tiebreaker in lieu of the third set). I had no doubt at that moment that Evan King was around to
stay.
After a good finish in the 12s (ranked #22 his last year), Evan King has consistently placed himself in the top 10 of the rankings ever since. The Chicago native made it to No. 3 in the Boys 14 singles for 2005 with wins at the Columbus Indoors and a National Open. He also had fourth place finishes that year at the National Hardcourts and the Franklin Winter Championships. With a consistent partner Jordan Cox, he finished with a #4 doubles ranking. In 2006, Evan King earned his No. 7 singles finish for the year after winning the Labor Day Championships and the Midwest Open, and finishing in the finals of the USTA National Winter Championships (where he and Jordan won the doubles).
Although the year hasn't even finished, 2007 has been the most exciting thus far for Evan King. He started the year off right, winning the 16 singles at the USTA National Winter Championships on New Year's Day. He won the third place singles trophy and fourth-place doubles at the Easter Bowl, and had a great showing at the National Team event - - playing in the 18s - - before coming in third at the National Hardcourts at Kalamazoo. He has since moved to the ITF events, placing in the quarters at three and winning the doubles with Jordan at the USTA/ITA at Illinois. Evan is currently number two in the country in singles and ten in doubles.
Evan King and I sat down this summer to talk about his incredible year and his plans for the future.
by Marcia Frost
