HOUSTON – The winners of the last five Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships are returning to River Oaks Country Club for the 2017 tournament April 8-16.
Jack Sock, the 2015 champion and 2016 runner-up, and Tommy Haas, the 2004 winner, are among the players who are included in the initial entry list that has been released today by the ATP World Tour.
They will join a trio of previously announced tournament victors – two-time winner and defending champion Juan Monaco, 2014 champ Fernando Verdasco and 2013 winner John Isner – in the field.
“We are thrilled about this field and are really looking forward to seeing these players at River Oaks in April,” said Tournament Director Bronwyn Greer. “There’s a nice blend of veteran players with great experience, not just here in Houston but also during their whole career, as well as rising stars who we’re just getting to know. That mix should make for a very exciting week.”
The tournament includes 10 players who have been ranked inside the Top 25 during their career. The field also features four members of the ATP’s “Next Gen,” players under the age of 21 who are working their way up the rankings.
Here is a look at the initial entry list for the 2017 tournament.
Rank^ – Name (Country) Age – US Clay Results
18 – Jack Sock (USA) 24 – Four appearances: 2015 Champion, 2016 finalist
22 – John Isner (USA) 31 – Nine appearances: 2013 Champion, 2012 finalist
26 – Steve Johnson (USA) 27 – Four appearances: second round twice
31 – Feliciano Lopez (Spain) 35 – Four appearances: 2016, 2012 semifinals
35 – Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 33 – Four appearances: 2014 Champion
40 – Sam Querrey (USA) 29 – Eight appearances: 2015, 2010 finalist
63 – Donald Young (USA) 27 – Six appearances: 2014 quarterfinalist
65 – Adrian Mannarino (France) 28 – First appearance
69 – Thomaz Bellucci (Brazil) 29 – First appearance
70 – Juan Monaco (Argentina) 32 – Six appearances: 2016, 2012 Champion
71 – Horacio Zeballos (Argentina) 31 – Three appearances: 2010 semifinals
74 – Thiago Monteiro (Brazil) 22 – First appearance (one previous qualifying appearance)
76 – Kevin Anderson (South Africa) 30 – Four appearances: 2015 semifinals
81 – Dustin Brown (Germany) 32 – One appearance: 2014 quarterfinals
84 – Rogerio Dutra Silva (Brazil) 33 – One appearance: 2015 first round
88 – Victor Estrella Burgos (Dominican Republic) 36 – Two appearances: 2016, 2015 first round
89 – Frances Tiafoe (USA) 19 – One appearance: 2016 first round
90 – Hyeon Chung (Korea) 20 – Two appearances: 2016 quarterfinals
91 – Jared Donaldson (USA) 20 – First appearance (two previous qualifying appearances)
93 – Adam Pavlasek (Czech Republic) 22 – First appearance
136* – Taylor Fritz (USA) 19 – First appearance
1020** – Tommy Haas (Germany) 38 – Eight appearances: 2004 champion
^ Rank as of Feb. 27, 2016
* Wild Card entrant
** Entered with injury protected ranking
Today’s announcement of the 22-player initial entry list is just the start of the 28-player field. In addition to two wild card entrants, four players will be added to the field through a two-round qualifying tournament that will be held April 8-9 at River Oaks.
Six-time doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan have already committed to the doubles field along with reigning French Open champions Feliciano Lopez and March Lopez (no relation). The initial entry list for doubles will be announced in late March.
Limited tickets remain available for the 2017 tournament. More information can be found at www.mensclaycourt.com.
