Tommy Paul Returning to River Oaks in 2026
HOUSTON (Jan. 14, 2026) – A first-time member of the Top 10 during the 2025 season, Tommy Paul has committed to make a return trip to the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship during his 2026 campaign.
Paul joins previously announced field entrants that includes a pair of past champions – Ben Shelton (2024) and Frances Tiafoe (2023) – along with a duo of young US players, Learner Tien, 20, and Alex Michelsen, 21.
The American quintet will take part in the ATP Tour’s only North American clay court tournament when it is held March 28-April 5 at River Oaks Country Club.
“Tommy’s been so well liked over the years here at River Oaks, so we are thrilled to welcome him back for this spring’s tournament,” said Tournament Director Bronwyn Greer. “With these five players committed coupled with the Australian Open getting underway soon, the countdown to Houston’s tennis week is definitely on.”
Paul’s ranking rise last season was fueled by Grand Slam success. He first broke into the Top 10 by reaching the final eight at the Australian Open. In the next major, he again reached the quarterfinals, this time on the clay at Roland Garros, which pushed him to a career high ranking of No. 8.
Paul was the first American to reach quarterfinals at each of the season’s first two Slams since Andre Agassi in 2003.
He advanced to the semifinals at three of his first six ATP tournaments last season, including US Clay at River Oaks. Later in the spring, he added a semifinal at the Masters 1000 clay court event in Madrid. Injuries limited Paul’s play in the second half of the season, but he still finished the year ranked No. 20.
Off the court, Paul announced in July his engagement to Paige Lorenze.
In his career, Paul owns four titles and has been a finalist on three other occasions. A former junior champion at Roland Garros, this will be Paul’s fifth appearance at River Oaks.
Like Paul, Shelton made his Top 10 debut in 2025, peaking at No. 5. The 23-year-old qualified for the ATP Finals for the first time after a season highlighted by the title at the Masters 1000 event in Toronto. He also reached the semifinals at the Australian Open and quarterfinals at Wimbledon.
Tiafoe will be bidding to reach a fourth consecutive final at River Oaks when he returns. A former Top 10 player himself, Tiafoe reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2025. He has reached 10 career ATP finals and won the trophy at three events.
Tien closed his 2025 season by claiming the title at the Next Gen ATP Finals, a year-end event for the Tour’s best 20-and-under players that counts Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner as past champions. In October, Tien reached his first-ever ATP final at Beijing, then one month later, claimed his first title at Metz, France.
Michelsen was a three-time semifinalist during 2025 while also reaching four quarterfinals, including at River Oaks. He also found success on clay with a title at the Challenger Tour event in Estoril, Portugal.
Additional players will be announced prior to the full field being released in early March.
Qualifying will kick off play at River Oaks on March 28, with the preliminary rounds taking place on Stadium Court for the first time. Finals Sunday, April 5, will feature both the singles and doubles finals.
