HOUSTON (March 6, 2024) – A trio of gamers who’ve claimed titles already within the 2024 season – Tommy Paul (Dallas), Jordan Thompson (Los Cabos) and Luciano Darderi (Cordoba) – are among the many gamers on the preliminary entry record for the 2024 Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship. The ATP 250 event might be held March 30-April 7 at River Oaks Nation Membership.
Gamers beforehand introduced for this yr’s event embrace three Individuals ranked within the Prime 20: No. 16 Ben Shelton, No. 17 Paul and No. 18 Frances Tiafoe, the occasion’s defending champion. Different early commitments have been 2023 runner-up Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina, Australian Max Purcell, who gained the 2023 doubles title with Thompson, American Chris Eubanks and Canadian Denis Shapovalov.
Further gamers becoming a member of the sphere on the preliminary entry record embrace World No. 22 Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, 2023 US Clay semifinalist Yannick Hanfmann, this season’s Dallas finalist Marcos Giron, and Auckland runner-up Taro Daniel.
The entries additionally embrace 2011 US Clay runner-up Kei Nishikori. The Japanese star reached a excessive of No. 4 within the ATP rankings, owns 12 profession titles and was runner-up on the 2014 US Open. He might be returning to tour motion simply earlier than coming to River Oaks by enjoying the Miami Open, his first occasion since final July.
Right here is an outline of the 2024 area:
7 nations represented, led by 8 Individuals
5 Individuals ranked within the Prime 50: Ben Shelton (16), Tommy Paul (17), Frances Tiafoe (18), Chris Eubanks (34) and Marcos Giron (48)
1 former US Males’s Clay champion: Frances Tiafoe (2023)
2 former US Males’s Clay finalists: Tomas Martin Etcheverry, (2023), Kei Nishikori (2011)
7 gamers making their event most important draw debut: Francisco Cerundolo, Luciano Darderi, Chris Eubanks, Aleksandar Kovacevic, Alex Michelsen, Denis Shapovalov, Ben Shelton
3 gamers who’ve gained an ATP Tour title in 2024: Luciano Darderi (Cordoba), Tommy Paul (Dallas), Jordan Thompson (Los Cabos)
3 gamers who’ve been runner-up on the ATP Tour in 2024: Taro Daniel (Auckland), Marcos Giron, (Dallas), Tommy Paul (Delray Seashore)
2 ATP Newcomer of the Yr winners: Kei Nishikori (2008), Denis Shapovalov (2017)
1 ATP Comeback Participant of the Yr winner: Mackenzie McDonald (2021)
1 ATP Most Improved Participant winner: Denis Shapovalov (2017)
1 ATP Arthur Ashe Humanitarian Award winner: Frances Tiafoe (2020)
2 gamers who gained NCAA workforce championships: Yannick Hanfmann (USC, 2012, 2014) Ben Shelton (Florida, 2021)
3 NCAA singles champions: Marcos Giron (UCLA, 2014), Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA, 2016), Ben Shelton (Florida, 2022)
8 former faculty gamers: Francisco Cerundolo (South Carolina), Chris Eubanks (Georgia Tech), Marcos Giron(UCLA), Yannick Hanfmann (USC), Rinky Hijikata (North Carolina) Aleksandar Kovacevic (Illinois) Mackenzie McDonald (UCLA), Ben Shelton (Florida).
9 gamers age 25 and beneath (Youngest – Alex Michelsen, 19)
4 gamers age 30 and over (Oldest – Kei Nishikori, 34)
Right here’s a have a look at the preliminary entrants:(Rank) Identify, Age, Nation – Mini-Bio(16) Ben Shelton, 21, USA – 2023 US Open SF, Australian Open QF; Gained Tokyo title; US Clay debut(17) Tommy Paul, 26, USA – 7-1 in US this season with Dallas title, Delray Seashore ultimate(18) Frances Tiafoe, 26, USA – 2023 US Clay champ; Additionally gained Stuttgart in 2023(22) Francisco Cerundolo, 25, Argentina – Two-time finalist in 2023; 2022 Miami SFs(30) Tomas Martin Etcheverry, 24, Argentina – 2023 US Clay finalist; Two clay QF this season(33) Jordan Thompson, 29, Australia – Gained Los Cabos in February; Additionally 1 SF and a pair of QF this yr(34) Chris Eubanks, 27, USA – 2023 Mallorca winner, Wimbledon QF; Davis Cup debut final month(48) Marcos Giron, 30, USA – Two-time ATP finalist, together with Dallas final month(57) Yannick Hanfmann, 32, Germany – 2023 US Clay semifinalist; Two-time ATP clay finalist(67) Mackenzie McDonald, 28, USA – 2021 ATP Comeback winner, NCAA singles, doubles champ(71) Max Purcell, 25, Australia – 3 titles in 6 2023 Challenger finals, 2x US Clay doubles champ(73) Luciano Darderi, 22, Italy – Winner at Cordoba as qualifier in February; QF in Santiago(76) Taro Daniel, 31, Japan – Finalist at Auckland in January then reached profession excessive rating(78) Rinky Hijikata, 23, Australia – QFs this season in Brisbane and Delray Seashore(80) Alex Michelsen, 19, USA – Youngest American in Prime 100; Finalist at Newport in 2023(84) Daniel Elahi Galan, 27, Colombia – 2019 US Clay SF as qualifier, 2023 Wimbledon Spherical of 16(92) Aleksandar Kovacevic, 25, USA – QFs in Los Cabos; Owns 4 profession Challenger titles(131) Denis Shapovalov, 24, Canada – Owns one title; ATP Newcomer and Comeback winner(352*) Kei Nishikori, 34, Japan – Finalist at River Oaks in 2011, US Open in 2014; Profession excessive No. 4*Harm protected rating used for entry
The event will award two wild playing cards whereas 4 extra gamers might be added to the sphere following a two-round qualifying event that might be held at River Oaks March 30-31.
Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship at River Oaks Nation ClubRiver Oaks Nation Membership is internet hosting an expert tennis event for the 88th time when the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship might be held March 30-April 7, 2024. River Oaks first hosted its personal event, The River Oaks Worldwide, in 1931, and its roster of former champions contains Jack Kramer, Tony Trabert, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewall, Ivan Lendl, Guillermo Vilas and James Blake. Houston is the twenty first metropolis to host the U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship. The event got here to Houston in 2001, and has been hosted at River Oaks since 2008. Began in 1910 by the USTA, the 2024 event would be the 112th competitors for the Clay Court docket Championship. American Frances Tiafoe was the 2023 singles champion whereas Australia’s Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson gained the doubles title. The event beneficiary is the Nationwide Junior Tennis & Studying applications of the Houston Tennis Affiliation. Extra details about the event may be discovered at www.mensclaycourt.com.
