STARNBERG, April 4, 2022
The ATP Tour shifts to clay this week with ATP 250 events in Houston and Marrakech.
US-Americans Reilly Opelka and Taylor Fritz headline the field at the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston, where the draw also includes former champions Cristian Garin of Chile, John Isner, Jack Sock and Steve Johnson from the United States.
Casper Ruud has withdrawn from the tournament. The 23-year-old Norwegian, who fell in Sunday’s Miami Open final, indicated he has been struggling with his wisdom teeth over the past few days which led to his decision. “Hey Houston, just wanted to tell you how sorry I am that I am that I won’t be able to come this year to your event and play the tournament,” Ruud said in a video message. “I have looked so much forward to it, coming back to River Oaks, to try to do my best to win a title there in your club. “In the past three or four days I have been battling some ache in my wisdom tooth, which is not going away unfortunately. It’s a tough decision but I have to go home and get it fixed. I hope I can return one day, and hopefully next year I will be back in River Oaks. Good luck for the tournament and see you guys soon.”
A lucky loser will replace Ruud in the draw on Monday afternoon. That player will assume Ruud’s spot at the top of the draw and will receive an opening round bye. He will face either 2019 US Clay semi-finalist Daniel Elahi Galan or two-time River Oaks runner-up Sam Querrey.
ATP Houston main draw singles, doubles and qualies draw pic.twitter.com/BC3BJaHCvE
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) April 2, 2022
Auger-Aliassime top seed in Marrakech
Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada is the top seed at the Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech as he pursues his second title of the year in a field rife with clay-court expertise.
Albert Ramos-Vinolas of Spain and 2016 champion Federico Delbonis from Argentina will also be competing in Morocco, where second-seeded Briton Daniel Evans faces a first-round clash against three-time Marrakech champion Pablo Andujar from Spain.
Marrakech singles & doubles draws pic.twitter.com/gKZiz2m5O2
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) April 2, 2022
