HOUSTON, January 10, 2024 (Press Release)
The second-ranked American and world No. 14 Tommy Paul will return to the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, March 30-April 7 at River Oaks Country Club, the tournament announced today. Paul would become the top-ranked American for the first time if he wins this week’s tournament in Adelaide, Australia, where he is the top seed. In Houston he will join fellow Americans Frances Tiafoe and Ben Shelton, also ranked in the Top 20, and Christopher Eubanks, ranked No. 34. Tiafoe is the tournament’s defending champion.“Tommy had a great 2023 season, and we’re thrilled he’ll be coming back to Houston this Spring,” said Tournament Director Bronwyn Greer. “As we continue to add to the field, we are only getting more excited for tournament week. We are definitely counting down the days until first serve and cannot wait to welcome these great players and our sensational fans back to River Oaks.” Last year was a breakout season for Paul, 26. He reached his first Grand Slam semifinal at the Australian Open with wins over two seeds and Shelton, was a two-time ATP Tour finalist, notched a win over No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz and reached the US Open fourth round before falling to Shelton. After starting 2023 at No.32 he moved up to a career high of No. 12 in the world rankings. Paul won his first ATP Tour title at 2021 Stockholm by defeating Taylor Fritz, defending Houston champion Tiafoe and three-time Grand Slam major winner Andy Murray. In 2022 he reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.Paul will be playing in his fourth US Clay main draw, where he debuted as a wild card ranked No. 200 in 2016 and earned his first career ATP match win as an 18-year-old. He’ll be looking to reach his first quarterfinal at River Oaks. As a junior player he won the 2015 French Open boys’ title and back-to-back USTA National Clay Court titles in 2013-14. Starting today, Paul, Tiafoe and Shelton are featured in season 2 of the Netflix docuseries “Break Point,” which followed ATP and WTA players on and off the court throughout last season. All three are seeded for the season’s first Grand Slam, the Australian Open, which will be broadcast starting at 6 p.m. CT Saturday on ESPN and the ESPN App.
