HOUSTON, January 13, 2022 (Press Release)
Two of the tallest players in ATP Tour history – 6-foot-10-inch John Isner and 6-foot-11-inch Reilly Opelka – are set to return to the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club April 2-10. Isner, the 2013 singles champion, will make his 12th appearance at River Oaks. Opelka, who broke into the top 20 ATP rankings last season after a deep US Open run, enters his fourth year playing in the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship.The towering American duo join World No. 8 Casper Ruud and defending champion Cristian Garin, who played each other in the 2019 US Clay final. A trio of young American stars – Taylor Fritz, Frances Tiafoe, Jenson Brooksby – and 10-time ATP Tour titleholder Sam Querrey have also previously committed to the 2022 tournament.“It’s exciting to have John and Reilly back at River Oaks for the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship,” Tournament Director Bronwyn Greer said. “These American stars are fan favorites and add to our already spectacular player field for this year’s event.” After reaching the US Clay final in 2012, Isner accumulated a tournament-record 64 aces on his way to the title at River Oaks in 2013. The Dallas resident has been awarded the No. 1 seed three times, twice when he was the World No. 9. Isner is also a two-time recipient of the Ernest Langston Sportsmanship Trophy, named after the former River Oaks International Tournament Chairman given to players annually who demonstrate great sportsmanship during the competition.Isner’s appearance in 2022 will put him in a tie for the second-most U.S. Clay Court appearances with James Blake and Querrey, who was his doubles partner during a River Oaks final run in 2011. The 2009 ATP Tour Most Improved Player of the Year has reached the quarterfinals, semifinals or final in seven of his last 11 appearances. The former NCAA team champion from the University of Georgia has accumulated 16 ATP Tour titles, reached two US Open quarterfinals and was a 2018 Wimbledon semifinalist. Isner has the second-most career aces in ATP Tour history with over 13,000, ahead of 20-time Major champion Roger Federer by over 1,600. He also holds the ATP Tour record for most aces in a match with 113, doing so against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010 in the longest tennis match in tennis history (11 hours and five minutes over three days).Opelka made his ATP Tour debut at River Oaks in 2016 after receiving a wild card. The Delray Beach, Florida resident will have played in the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship main draw in four of the last five tournaments. The 24-year-old advanced to the Round of 16 at the 2021 US Open for his career-best finish at a Grand Slam, capturing a career-high ATP Tour ranking of No. 19 afterwards. Opelka was the Wimbledon boys’ champion in 2015. He captured his first ATP Tour title in 2019 in New York and won his second singles crown in Delray Beach in 2020. Daily Tickets, West Grandstand Season Packages and the Champs Pass – Finals Weekend package are on sale now. To purchase or for more information, click here.
