Tien, Michelsen Returning to River Oaks in 2026
HOUSTON (Dec. 17, 2025) – A pair of American rising stars are joining the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, with Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen set to return to Houston in the spring.
The duo joins a field that already includes a pair of past champions – 2023 winner Frances Tiafoe and 2024 champ Ben Shelton – for the March 28-April 5 ATP tournament at River Oaks Country Club.
“It is exciting to welcome two of the next generation of American tennis stars back to Houston,” said Tournament Director Bronwyn Greer. “Throughout the long history of tennis at River Oaks, we have looked to showcase players on their way up the rankings. Learner and Alex have already found success on Tour, but it certainly feels like they both have great careers ahead of them, and we’re looking forward to seeing them on our red clay courts.”
Both Tien, 20, and Michelsen, 21, had hot starts to 2025 with runs to the Australian Open Round of 16 in January. It was just the beginning for both.
Tien improved his position in the ATP Rankings by nearly 100 spots during the 2025 season. Late in the year, he claimed his first career title at the event in Metz, France, less than a month after he reached his first-ever ATP final in Beijing. He recorded five victories over Top 10 opponents during the season.
Tien is the top seed at this week’s Next Gen Finals, the ATP’s year-end event for the season’s best 20-and-under talent. Tien returns to the tournament, whose previous champions include Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, after reaching last year’s final.
Michelsen reached three semifinals this season, and US Clay was one of four quarterfinal finishes. He also claimed the Challenger title on clay in Estoril, Portugal.
Michelsen broke through at Newport in 2023 to reach his first-ever ATP final in just his second event, becoming the youngest American finalist since Taylor Fritz at Memphis in 2016. He has since reached two other ATP finals and was a semifinalist at last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals.
Michelsen and Tien met in the first round last year at River Oaks, with Michelsen prevailing on his way to the quarterfinals.
Shelton reached as high as No.5 in the rankings this season and finished in the Top 10 after claiming the biggest title of his career – the Masters 1000 in Canada. The 23-year-old qualified for the ATP Tour Finals and was a clay court finalist in Munich this season.
Tiafoe will be making his eighth career appearance at River Oaks. He’s a three-time title winner on tour, and this season reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros, the clay court Grand Slam. He is bidding to be the first player to reach four straight US Clay finals since Andy Roddick (2001-05).
Additional players are expected to be announced prior to the full field being released in early March.
Play begins March 28 at River Oaks with qualifying matches, which for the first time will be played on Stadium Court. Finals Sunday, April 5, will feature both the singles and doubles finals.
