Evan King really showed up at this year’s French Open. I mean, the guy's been grinding for a while now, mostly flying under the radar, but this tournament felt like a breakout moment for him. Partnering with Taylor Townsend in mixed doubles, they went all the way to the finals. That’s not something you see every day—especially for someone who doesn’t usually make headlines at the Slams. They didn’t win the title, though. The Italian duo, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori, were just too solid and took it in straight sets, 6-4, 6-2. But still, just making the final? That’s huge.
His Men’s Doubles Run Was Pretty Impressive Too
Now, that’s not even the whole story. In men’s doubles, King was playing alongside Christian Harrison. The two of them didn’t just show up—they took down the No. 2 seeds (Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten) like it was no big deal. Straight sets win, 6-3, 6-4. Honestly, I feel like they had the kind of chemistry on court that doesn’t come around too often. They made it to the quarterfinals, and even though that’s where the run ended, it still felt like they had really made their mark.
A Bigger Moment Than Just Tennis
Evan King is on a roll! He and Taylor Townsend advance to the mixed doubles semi at #RolandGarros after a 6-3, 6-4 win over Siegemund/Roger-Vasselin #ProBlue pic.twitter.com/0qvRYvlYtB
— Michigan Men’s Tennis (@umichtennis) June 3, 2025
What makes this even more special is the bigger picture. For the first time ever, African-American players made it to the quarterfinals—or beyond—in every professional category at a Grand Slam. That includes singles and doubles for both men and women, and mixed doubles. That’s powerful. It’s not just about the wins—it’s about the visibility, the progress, and how this moment could inspire more young players coming up. It felt like a shift, you know?
