Dish-Houston

RESULTS - TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 2014

Singles First Round
[5] Feliciano Lopez (Spain) d [Q] Robby Ginepri (USA) 75 62
[7] Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) d [Q] Peter Polansky (Canada) 64 36 64
Michael Russell (USA) d Daniel Gimeno-Traver (Spain) 63 76(2)
Benjamin Becker (Germany) d [Q] Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (Spain) 61 16 63
Donald Young (USA) d [Q] Ryan Harrison (USA) 60 61
[WC] Steve Johnson (USA) d Denis Kudla (USA) 63 76(4)

Singles First Round
[1] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) d Nicholas Monroe (USA) / Donald Young (USA) 63 64
Matthew Ebden (Australia) / Sam Groth (Australia) d Ken Skupski (Great Britain) / Neal Skupski (Great Britain) 64 76(2)

ORDER OF PLAY - WEDNESDAY, APRIL 9, 2014

CENTER COURT start 12:00 noon
[6] Juan Monaco (Argentina) vs Somdev Devvarman (India)
Sam Querrey (USA) vs [7] Lleyton Hewitt (Australia)
Jonathan Erlich (Israel) / Michal Mertinak (Slovak Republic) vs [2] David Marrero (Spain) / Fernando Verdasco (Spain)
Not Before 6:00 pm
[1] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA) vs Matthew Ebden (Australia) / Samuel Groth (Australia)
[1] John Isner (USA) vs Dustin Brown (Germany)

COURT 3 start 12:00 noon
Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) vs Matthew Ebden (Australia)
[3] Santiago Gonzalez (Mexico) / Scott Lipsky (USA) vs Purav Raja (India) / Divij Sharan (India)
[Alt] Thiemo de Bakker (Netherlands) / Melle Van Gemerden (Netherlands) vs Austin Krajicek (USA) / Michael Venus (New Zealand)
After Suitable Rest - Benjamin Becker (Germany) / Rameez Junaid (Australia) vs [WC] Steve Johnson (USA) / Sam Querrey (USA)
Not Before 6:00 pm
Chris Guccione (Australia) / L Hewitt (Australia) vs Marin Draganja (Croatia) / Gero Kretschmer (GER)

COURT 7 start 3:00 pm
Santiago Giraldo (Colombia) / Alejandro Gonzalez (Colombia) vs [4] Mate Pavic (CRO) / John-Patrick Smith (AUS)

Four former champions are on the initial entry list of 21 players for the 2014 Fayez Sarofim & Co. US Men's Clay Court Championship that will be held April 7-13. It will mark the 80th tournament that River Oaks Country Club has hosted.

Defending champion John Isner of the United States will be joined by former champions Juan Monaco(2012), Lleyton Hewitt (2009) and Ivo Karlovic (2007) in the tournament. 

Isner, at No. 13, is the top ranked of all entrants, and is one of three Top 20 players in the field, joined by Spaniards Tommy Robredo (No. 16) and Nicolas Almagro (No. 17). Robredo and Almagro, the 2013 runner-up, are two of only four active players on the ATP with more than 200 career match wins on clay.  

“We are very pleased to see the caliber of players on our initial entry list,” said Tournament Director Van Barry. “This field really has everything we could ask for - an international flavor, players with high rankings, players who have had success here and players who are well-liked by our fans. We are very excited to have all these guys come to River Oaks and are looking forward to a great week with them as we celebrate the 80th tournament in the Club's history.”

The initial entry list of 21 includes players from 13 countries. Three more players will be granted wild cards into the field, while four will be added through a qualifying tournament held April 5-7. Below is the initial entry list (Feb. 24 ranking in parentheses):

Nicolas Almagro - Spain (17)
Benjamin Becker - Germany (90)
Alex Bogomolov, Jr. - Russia (93)
Pablo Cuevas - Uruguay (197*)
Somdev Devvarman - India (78)
Matthew Ebden - Australia (62)
Alejandro Falla - Colombia (79)
Daniel Gimeno-Traver - Spain (85)
Santiago Giraldo - Colombia (58)
Alejandro Gonzalez - Colombia (76)
Lleyton Hewitt - Australia (42)
John Isner - United States (13)
Ivo Karlovic - Croatia (55)
Bradley Klahn - United States (65)
Feliciano Lopez - Spain (37)
Juan Monaco - Argentina (43)
Sam Querrey - United States (56)
Tommy Robredo - Spain (16)
Janko Tipsarevic - Serbia (70)
Fernando Verdasco - Spain (32)
Donald Young - United States (91)
*Entry based on injury protected ranking

Two of the top doubles teams on the ATP World Tour have also committed to play the 2014 tournament.Bob and Mike Bryan, the twin-brother tandem that has won four titles at the US Men's Clay Court Championship, and the Spanish duo of Fernando Verdasco and David Marrero, champions at the 2013 ATP World Tour Finals, have both been entered into the doubles draw.
 
In 2014, River Oaks Country Club will celebrate hosting a tournament for the 80^th time since its inauguration in 1931. The upcoming tournament will also mark the 104^th staging of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship.

Tickets for the 2014 Fayez Sarofim & Co. US Men's Clay Court Championship are on sale now. For more information, CLICK HERE.  

Former champions Lleyton Hewitt (2009) and Tommy Haas (2004) as well as former finalist James Blake (2008) are among the players added to the field for the 2013 US Men's Clay Court Championship as the preliminary entry list was released this week. Twenty-three players, including six ranked within the Top 25 on the ATP World Tour, have committed to the 28-player field for the tournament at River Oaks Country Club April 8-14.

Hewitt, a two-time Grand Slam champion from Australia, and Germany's Haas headline a list of international stars in the event that includes defending champion Juan Monaco from Argentina, France's Gael Monfilsand Spaniard's Nicolas Almagro and Fernando Verdasco.

Blake, a former Top 5 player, is among a group of seven Americans that includes 2012 River Oaks runner-up John Isner, 2010 finalist Sam Querrey, Ryan Harrison, Tim Smyczek, Houston resident Michael Russell and wild card recipient Jack Sock.

"Getting the entry list always gives everyone around River Oaks a little energy boost because it means the tournament is now less than six weeks away," said Tournament Director Van Barry. "With the players that has signed up for the 2013 tournament, I anticipate a lot of excitement for this tournament. It's such a deep field, I think every day of the week will have plenty of stars and quality matches."

Here are the first 22 entries for the 213 US Men's Clay Court Championship, with their nationality and ranking as of Monday, Feb. 25:
Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 12
Martin Alund (Argentina) 91
Ricardas Berankis (Lithuania) 87
Carlos Berlocq (Argentina) 75
James Blake (USA) 99
Flavio Cipolla (Italy) 100
Somdev Devvarman (India) 85*
Tommy Haas (Germany) 19
Ryan Harrison (USA) 76
Lleyton Hewitt (Australia) 98
John Isner (USA) 15
Jesse Levine (Canada) 95
Paolo Lorenzi (Italy) 57
Leonardo Mayer (Argentina) 77
Juan Monaco (Argentina) 14
Guido Pella (Argentina) 88
Sam Querrey (USA) 23
Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo (Spain) 96
Michael Russell (USA) 72
Tim Smyczek (USA) 101
Jack Sock (USA) 130
Fernando Verdasco (Spain) 24
*Protected Ranking

One more player will join the field as wild cards while four more players will advance into the main draw through the qualifying tournament that will be held begin April 6 at River Oaks.

In addition to these singles players, four-time doubles champion the Bryan Brothers will return to River Oaks. The twin brothers Bob and Mike are the World No. 1 doubles team. They own the record for Grand Slam titles with 13 together as well as total career titles together with 85. 

Individual session tickets and the very popular “Champ Pass” are on sale on now. The Champ Pass for the 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship includes a ticket to the Friday, Saturday and Sunday sessions. "The Champ Pass" usually sells out before the tournament begins. A limited number of season ticket packages are still remaining. Information on tickets can be found at www.mensclaycourt.com or by calling 713-874-6294.
 
US Men’s Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club
The 104th competition for the US Men’s Clay Court Championship will be held April 8-14, 2013, at River Oaks Country Club in Houston. Started by the USTA in 1910, the Clay Court Championship has been held at numerous venues around the country. The tournament has been held in Houston since 2001, and will be held at River Oaks Country Club for the fourth straight year. Prior to hosting the US Men’s Clay Court Championship, River Oaks Country Club hosted its own event, The River Oaks International. Started in 1931, the River Oaks International roster of former champions includes Jack Kramer, Tony Trabert, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewall, Ivan Lendl, Guillermo Vilas and James Blake. The 2013 US Men’s Clay Court Championship will be the 79^th tournament at River Oaks, with the club hosting a tournament every year since 1946 after a four-year lapse due to the war. More information is available at www.mensclaycourt.com or on Twitter at @mensclaycourt. 

ALERT - Friday's day session will now start at 1 pm instead of the previously announced noon.

Below is Friday's Order of Play and partial results from Thursday:

ORDER OF PLAY - FRIDAY, APRIL 13, 2012
Stadium Court start 1:00 pm
[4][WC] Juan Monaco (ARG) vs [5][WC] Kevin Anderson (RSA)
Not Before 3:00 pm
[Q] Michael Russell (USA) vs Ryan Harrison (USA)
Not Before 6:00 pm
[Q] Horacio Zeballos (ARG) OR [2] John Isner (USA) vs Ryan Sweeting (USA)
[3][WC] Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs [6] Carlos Berlocq (ARG)
Court 3 start 4:30 pm
James Blake (USA) & Sam Querrey (USA) vs Ivo Karlovic (CRO) & Frank Moser (GER)
Treat Conrad Huey (PHI) & Dominic Inglot (GBR) OR [2] Mark Knowles (BAH) & Xavier Malisse (BEL) vs Bobby Reynolds (USA) & Michael Russell (USA) OR [4] Johan Brunstrom (SWE) & Dick Norman (BEL)

RESULTS - THURSDAY, APRIL 12, 2012
SINGLES SECOND ROUND
[Q] Michael Russell (USA) d [1] Mardy Fish (USA) 63 61
[2] John Isner (USA) vs [Q] Horacio Zeballos (ARG) - IN PROGRESS
[4][WC] Juan Monaco (ARG) d Tatsuma Ito (JPN) 63 63
[WC][5] Kevin Anderson (RSA) d Sam Querrey (USA) 63(3) 36 76(2)
Ryan Harrison (USA) d Igor Kunitsyn (RUS) 62 64
Ryan Sweeting (USA) d Bobby Reynolds (USA) 63 62

SEE YOU AT THE TOURNEY DISHIES!

The US Men’s Clay Court Championship and the USTA are teaming up during next week’s tournament to support members of the United States military through an Adopt-A-Unit program for 402^nd Army Field Support Brigade (AFSB).
 
The Adopt-A-Unit effort coincides with the tournament’s first-ever Armed Forces Appreciation Night on Wednesday, April 11. That evening will include a wheelchair tennis demonstration featuring Wounded Warriors as well as a special tribute to all military personnel.
 
Patrons attending the US Men’s Clay Court Championship April 9-15 at River Oaks Country Club are encouraged support the Adopt-A-Unit program by bringing items to donate for a shipment to the 75-100 personnel in that unit based at Al Asad Air Base in Iraq.  
 
Letters of support are among the items suggested for donation to the troops. In addition, specific needs include money for postage, beef jerky, sunflower seeds, nuts, protein bars, granola bars, powdered drink mixes, tuna in foil bags, socks, personal or baby wipes, hand warmers, hot chocolate, hand sanitizer and lip balm.
 
Fans are asked to bring any of these items to the USTA booth at the US Men’s Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club. In addition to these donations, the USTA will be providing portable tennis equipment to be sent to the troops as well.
 
On Monday, April 16, volunteers will gather at River Oaks to package all the donated items for shipment to the 402^nd AFSB.
 
The 402nd AFSB and its subordinate units provide acquisition, logistics and technology-related sustainment support to Army, joint, and multinational forces, as well other government agencies through a combination of direct support and general support as directed by the Army Sustainment Command (ASC) and senior Army sustainment combatant commands in its area of operations.
 
Once again in 2012 the US Men’s Clay Court Championship will also be working its charitable partner Texas Children’s Hospital. In addition to several ATP World Tour players taking time to visit patients during the tournament, the hospital will also once again be the beneficiary of the tournament’s ticket resale program.
 
Through the Texas Children’s Ticket Turnback program, fans holding tickets for a session that they cannot use are invited to return those tickets to the box office where they will be sold for face value and the entire resale price will be donated to Texas Children’s Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Institute.

 
“We are very happy to work with the USTA on this Adopt-A-Unit initiative and are pleased to introduce that program this year as we have our first Armed Forces Appreciation Night,” said tournament director Van Barry. “In the past few years we have seen the Texas Children’s Ticket Turnback program grow, so we feel the time is right to try to extend our support to another project. We continue to take pride in our ability to give back to the community through this tournament, and we are thankful to our patrons who help us support these causes.”

 
The 2012 tournament will begin April 9 and features four players in the Top 16 of the ATP rankings – No. 9 Mardy Fish,No. 10 John Isner, No. 15 Feliciano Lopez and No. 16 Juan Monaco. The eight seeded players in the 28-player field are all in the Top 50 of the rankings, and the draw includes four past champions of the event and three former finalists. (SEE PLAYER LIST HERE)
 
ONLY LIMITED TICKETS REMAIN for the 2012 US Men’s Clay Court Championship. The popular Champs Pass that includes all sessions from Friday-Sunday has sold out, and only standing room only tickets remain for Saturday’s singles semifinals and doubles final. Information on tickets can be found at www.mensclaycourt.com or by calling 713-874-629.