HOUSTON, February 26, 2020 (Press Release)
Three players who have won four titles so far in 2020 as well as a trio of past champions are among those on the initial entry list for the 2020 Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship. These 19 competitors will be part of the 28-player field at the ATP 250 tournament at River Oaks Country Club April 4-12.
Fast facts about the 2020 US Clay field include:
• Three 2020 title winners (Cristian Garin – Codoba, Rio de Janeiro; Reilly Opelka – Delray Beach; Casper Ruud – Buenos Aires)
• Three past US Clay champions (Cristian Garin – 2019; Steve Johnson – 2018, 2017; John Isner – 2013)
• Four past US Clay finalists (Casper Ruud – 2019, Tennys Sandgren – 2018; Sam Querrey – 2015, 2010; John Isner – 2012)
• Four US Clay debutants (James Duckworth, Soonwoo Kwon, Adrian Mannarino, Andreas Seppi)
• 11 countries represented
• Eight Americans
• Nine players aged 25 or younger (Youngest is 21-year-old Casper Ruud)
• Seven players aged 30 or older (Oldest is 38-year-old Feliciano Lopez)
• Five Junior Grand Slam winners (Taylor Fritz – 2015 US Open; Reilly Opelka – 2015 Wimbledon; Tommy Paul – 2015 French Open; Cristian Garin – 2013 French Open; Grigor Dimitrov – 2008 Wimbledon, US Open)
“Releasing our entry list always turns up the anticipation for tournament week, but the early-season success for so many of these players will no doubt amplify the excitement,” said Tournament Director Bronwyn Greer. “From our defending champion, Cristian Garin, winning two more clay titles this month to other young, rising stars Casper Ruud and Reilly Opelka earning titles of their own, we know it will be an exciting week at River Oaks and the tournament will be as competitive as ever.”
The secret is out….
Meet the 2020 #USClay Player Field. pic.twitter.com/Q1zoVXhavw
— US Men’s Clay Court (@mensclaycourt) February 25, 2020
Here is the initial entry list of 19 players for the 2020 Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship:
(ATP Rank) Name Age, Country • Mini bio
(18) Cristian Garin 23, Chile • Defending US Clay champion; Has won four clay titles in last 10 months
(20) John Isner 34, USA • No. 1 American; Winner of 15 titles; 15-10 at US Clay, 2013 champion
(22) Grigor Dimitrov 28, Bulgaria • Owns eight titles, including 2017 ATP Finals; second appearance at US Clay
(35) Taylor Fritz 22, USA • Reached three ATP finals in 2019, winning one title;
(38) Casper Ruud 21, Norway • Winner at Buenos Aires; 2019 US Clay runner-up; Father, Christian, won ROITT
(39) Reilly Opelka 22, USA • Champion at Delray Beach in 2020, Long Island in 2019; Fifth appearance at US Clay
(41) Sam Querrey 32, USA • Winner of 10 career titles; 17-10 at US Clay; Finalist in 2015, 2010
(42) Adrian Mannarino 31, France • Reached three finals in 2019, winning one title; Making US Clay debut
(52) Feliciiano Lopez 38, Spain • Owns seven career titles; Member of Davis Cup winning teams; 8-5 at US Clay
(55) Tennys Sandgren 28, USA • Australian Open quarterfinalist; 2019 Auckland champion; 2018 US Clay finalist
(58) Cameron Norrie 24, Great Britain • No. 1 collegiate player while attending TCU; Made US clay debut in 2019
(60) Pablo Cuevas 34, Uruguay • Winner of six ATP titles, all on clay; Making fourth US clay appearance
(64) Jordan Thompson 25, Australia • Reached first ATP final last summer; Making second US Clay appearance
(66) Tommy Paul 22, USA • Semifinalist at Adelaide in January; First ATP match win came at 2016 US Clay
(73) Steve Johnson 30, USA • Winner of four ATP titles; Former NCAA champion; Two-time US Clay winner
(76) Soonwoo Kwon 22, Korea • Won pair of Challenger titles in 2019; Making US clay debut
(82) Frances Tiafoe 22, USA • Owns one ATP title from two finals; Former US Clay doubles finalist
(83) James Duckworth 28, Australia • Won Bengaluru Challenger in February; Making US clay debut
(86) Andreas Seppi 36, Italy • Finalist at Long Island in February; Owns three titles; Making US Clay debut
Nine players will join this group to round out the 28-player field, including three wild card recipients and four who will advance through a two-round qualifying tournament at River Oaks April 4-5. The draw for the tournament will take place on Friday, April 3.
A 16-team doubles draw will also take place during the tournament, with six-time champions Bob and Mike Bryan headlining the field in what they have announced will be their final ATP season. The initial list of doubles entrants will be released in mid-March.
The Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S., Men’s Clay Court Championship, held at River Oaks Country Club, is an ATP Tour 250 tournament. The National Junior Tennis & Learning programs of the Houston Tennis Association are the official beneficiary of the tournament.
