Dish-Houston

LADIES! It's time for Tennis!! The U.S Men's Clay Court Champoinships are about to happen and the eye candy is uber sweet this year!! Last years winner Lleyton Hewitt has accepted a wild card to return from a January hip operation and defend his title at River Oaks Country Club April 5-11.

Hewitt, a former World No. 1, injured his right hip while playing Hopman Cup in early January 2010. After a fourth-round loss to Roger Federer at the Australian Open he underwent surgery in Hobart to repair a torn labrum. He had a similar operation on his left hip in April 2008.

“I’m really looking forward to returning to defend my title in Houston,” Hewitt said. “The River Oaks Club is a great place to play and the people there really supportive. I couldn’t think of a better place to come back on to the Tour after an injury.”

The last player to successfully defend his US Men’s Clay Court Championship title was Andy Roddick, who won titles in 2001 and 2002. Hewitt won the 2009 title without dropping a set.

Gold medalist and World No. 11 Fernando Gonzalez is projected to be the top seed for the US Men's Clay Court Championship. The tournament’s field also includes the entire US Davis Cup team of John Isner and Sam Querrey along with Bob and Mike Bryan. Former champions Mardy Fish and Ivo Karlovic are also entered into the tournament, along with Houston resident Michael Russell and fellow Americans Taylor Dent and Rajeev Ram.

Here’s a look at the full field and their ranking as of February 22, 2010.

Season tickets, individual sessions and the finals weekend “Champ Pass” for the 2010 are on sale now. In2009, the final three days of the tournament sold out by mid-week. Information on tickets can be found at www.mensclaycourt.com/tickets