The 2017 United States Clay Court Championships will soon begin. The tournament comes just one week before the Monte Carlo Masters, so the players who play this event aren’t necessarily preparing for Monte Carlo. Some are, but some are just trying to win a tournament under what they perceive to be more favorable circumstances.
If you’re betting this event, keep in mind that a number of the big names will focus their attention onto Monte Carlo and skip this event. Being an ATP 250 Series tournament, we’re going to see lesser-known players. That means you’ll have to do your homework when handicapping these matches.
The competition in the 28-player main draw begins on Monday, April 10.
Event Details
Event: United States Clay Court Championships
Category: ATP 250 Series
Date: April 10 – 16, 2017
Location: River Oaks Country Club – Houston, Texas
With a prize money allotment of roughly $535,000, this event has increased its purse by nearly $20,000 relative to 2016. That’s a very small increase, but it remains an increase and therefore a sign that this event is relatively healthy. However, as a result, we’re not going to see a number of the big clay court stars here, such as Rafael Nadal. This prize just isn’t big enough to draw them out a week before a much bigger event is on the horizon.
The most prestigious clay-court events reside in Europe, so this represents a chance for American tennis players to try to take advantage of home soil and home crowds instead of having to fly across the ocean and going through the rigors of increased travel. Recent results in Houston show that Americans have had some success in making the finals of this tournament. Being highly seeded and getting a first-round bye have played a role in that process.
Points
Champion – 250
Runner-up – 150
Semifinal – 90
Quarterfinal – 45
Former Champions and Results (5 Years)
Year Champion Runner-up Score
2016 – Juan Monaco def. Jack Sock – 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2015 – Jack Sock def. Sam Querrey – 7-6, 7-6
2014 – Fernando Verdasco def. Nicolas Almagro – 6-3, 7-6
2013 – John Isner def. Nicolas Almagro – 6-3, 7-5
2012 – Juan Monaco def. John Isner – 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
Player Info:
It should come as no surprise that recent American finalists and champions at this event, Jack Sock and John Isner, have chosen to enter this event in 2017. Sock is the top seed and Isner second. As players seeded in the top four, Sock and Isner have to play only four matches to win the tournament, whereas players outside the top four will have to win five. Sock and Isner both know that their big serves and forehand-oriented games can still overpower opponents on clay. They have the results in Houston to prove it. Sock in particular has enjoyed a strong start to the season and will try to keep it going in Texas.
At the same time, remember that these two guys do best on the hard courts. Sock is 17-4 on the hard courts this year, which is similar to (but better) to the 18-10 he was last year. But looking to the clay courts, Sock was just 8-5 last year and 9-4 the year before. That means he can win an event like this but not the French Open.
Sam Querrey is the third seed. The man who beat Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon last year and has had some other moments of note on tour over the past nine months will try to show he can create a strong result on clay.
Steve Johnson, who rounds out the top four seeds – also from America – will try to make a similar breakthrough on clay, translating a hardcourt-friendly game to a less accommodating surface.
River Oaks Country Club
The tennis and golf complex has hosted tennis tournaments since 1931, and notable golf tournaments in the 1940s and beyond. The U.S. Clay Court Championships moved to Houston after being held in various other United States cities over the years. The Royal Oaks Country Club represent the new location for the Houston ATP Tour stop after the city previously held the tournament at the Westside Tennis Club. The stadium court holds 3,000 people, nestled into an intimate setting near trees. There is an overhang covering most, if not all, of the spectators, creating shade on court for late-afternoon and early-evening matches.
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