Austen Childs Selected to New Zealand Davis Cup Team
June 23, 2010 | Men's Tennis
June 23, 2010
University of Louisville tennis player Austen Childs has been named to New Zealand's 2010 Davis Cup team. He becomes the sixth player in program history to compete on a national team.
Childs will join New Zealand Davis Cup team for the BNP Paribas Asia/Oceania Group II semifinal against Pakistan, July 9-11 in Hawera, Taranaki.
Childs, a native of Mt. Maunganui, New Zealand, finished his junior season at No. 13 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles rankings after becoming the first U of L player to advance to the NCAA Singles Championship match where he finished runner-up. The two-time BIG EAST Player of the Year compiled a 33-12 overall record and went 22-5 as the Cards' No. 1 player.
"It's a big honor to play for my country," said Childs. "I'm pretty excited about the opportunity. I'm not sure if I'm going to play, but being on the team and helping out will be really fun."
"One of the goals that I had for Austen when he first arrived to Louisville was that he would improve to the point that he would be invited to join his national team, which in tennis is called the Davis Cup team," said U of L head coach Rex Ecarma. "After a very good regular season and a great NCAA Individual Tournament run in which he finished the NCAA Runner-up, he got that invitation. I am extremely proud of him and believe if his name gets called to play he can win matches for his home country, New Zealand. He only took a few days off after the NCAA tournament and is in great shape mentally and physically."
"New Zealand has a great coach, Marcel Vos who really believes in Austen," continued Ecarma. "This is yet another great achievement for Austen who has stayed very grounded despite all the media attention and accolades. Austen is our sixth player who made his national team. We want all the tennis playing countries in the world to know we can develop their athletes to an international level here at the University of Louisville."
Players Mentioned
