Evan King, once a standout college tennis player, is experiencing his greatest professional success at the 2025 French Open. At 33 years old, King has reached the mixed doubles final with Taylor Townsend and is also competing in the men’s doubles semifinals alongside Christian Harrison. This milestone highlights King’s persistent journey through a decade-long professional career to reach new heights in doubles competition.
Long road to doubles recognition and current peak performance
Despite turning professional more than ten years ago, King did not break into the top 100 doubles rankings until 2023. Now showcasing the best tennis of his career, King expressed appreciation for the acknowledgment that accompanies his progress. In an interview at Roland Garros, he reflected on his dedication spanning junior, college, and professional levels and the fulfillment of pursuing long-held goals.
“Super excited,” Evan King was quoted as saying by Roland Garros. “I’ve put a lot of time into the sport in general, whether it was as a pro or a junior or in college. I’m enjoying it.
“I wouldn’t still be playing if I didn’t believe that I could achieve some of these goals I have set for myself. I’m happy to get a little bit of validation of the things I thought were possible,” he added.
Early Grand Slam struggles and experience against top opponents
King’s mixed doubles Grand Slam debut came in 2016 at the US Open, where he did not advance past the first round. He also competed in the singles main draw at the 2017 US Open but was defeated in a tightly fought three-set match by Alexander Zverev. These early challenges laid the foundation for King’s steady climb in professional doubles competition.
The importance of partner selection in doubles success
King emphasized that successful doubles play depends heavily on choosing the right partners. His partnerships with Taylor Townsend and Christian Harrison have been pivotal to his achievements at the French Open. He described his approach to selecting teammates as vital to maintaining strong performance and enjoying the experience.
“Doubles is picking good partners, man. I have two good partners this week and I’m just enjoying the ride and trying not to screw it up,” Evan King said.
Current tournament highlights and upcoming challenges
King and Townsend reached the mixed doubles final but were defeated by Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. Meanwhile, King and Harrison have advanced to the men’s doubles semifinals after an impressive win over the second-seeded pair Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten in the quarterfinals. They now face top doubles team Neal Skupski and Joe Salisbury in the next round, aiming to continue their deep run at Roland Garros.
Implications of King’s French Open performance for his career
Evan King’s strong showing at the 2025 French Open marks a turning point in his career, demonstrating significant progress after years of perseverance. His ability to perform at a high level in both mixed and men’s doubles competitions signals potential for further success on the Grand Slam stage. The positive momentum generated here is likely to boost King’s confidence and standing as he looks ahead to future tournaments.