Dish-Houston

Four former winners of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship headline the initial acceptance list for the 2012 tournament that will be played April 9-15 at River Oaks Country Club.
 
Defending champion Ryan Sweeting will be joined in the field by former champions Marcel Granollers (2008), Ivo Karlovic (2007) and World No. 8 Mardy Fish (2006). They are joined in the field by James Blake, who was a two-time winner of the River Oaks International (2003, ’05).
 
Blake is also one of three US Men’s Clay Court Championship finalists in the field. The 2008 runner-up is joined by countrymen Sam Querrey (2010) and Wayne Odesnik (2009) in returning to River Oaks.
 
Those Americans are part of a contingent of eight US players in the field. Joining Sweeting, Fish, Blake, Querrey and Odesnik will be John Isner, who reached a career high ranking of No. 11 this week, Ryan Harrison and Bobby Reynolds.
 
“It is a great sign for the tournament to have so many players coming back to a place where they have previously had success,” said tournament director Van Barry. “This field represents a great mix of Americans as well as international stars, some very accomplished clay court players, veteran talent and rising stars. We really feel there is something for every fan with this roster of players.”
 
Here’s a look at the initial field and their ranking as of February 27, 2012:
44 Carlos Berlocq (ARG)                     
63 James Blake (USA)                       
35 Alex Bogomolov, Jr. (RUS)           
8 Mardy Fish (USA)                       
101 Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP)          
28 Marcel Granollers (ESP)           
65 Ryan Harrison (USA)                       
11 John Isner (USA)                       
105 Tatsuma Ito (JPN)                       
41 Ivo Karlovic (CRO)                       
77 Igor Kunitsyn (RUS)                       
102 Paolo Lorenzi (ITA)                       
66 Xavier Malisse (BEL)                      
108 Wayne Odesnik (USA)           
109 Bjorn Phau (GER)
103 Eric Prodon (FRA)
87 Sam Querrey (USA)
113 Bobby Reynolds (USA)
100 Joao Souza (BRA)
82 Ryan Sweeting (USA)
98 Adrian Ungur (ROU)

Four other players will join the field through the qualifying tournament that begins April 7. Three players will also be awarded wild cards into the field.
 
The doubles field will be announce just before the tournament, but four-time winners of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship Bob and Mike Bryan have committed to return and defend their title once again.

It’s not too late to purchase individual session tickets and the very popular “Champ Pass” for the 2012 US Men’s Clay Court Championship! The Champ Pass includes a ticket to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions, which are usually sold out before the tournament begins. Information on tickets can be found at www.mensclaycourt.com or by calling 713-874-6294