U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship
US Men's Clay Court Championships logo.jpg
Tournament information
LocationHouston, Texas
United States
VenueRiver Oaks Country Club
CategoryGrand Prix Tour (1970–89) (GP Super Series in 1974–77)
ATP World Series
(1990–1999)
ATP International Series
(2000–2008)
ATP World Tour 250 series
(2009–current)
SurfaceRed clay / outdoors
Draw28S / 16D
Prize money$652,245
Websitemensclaycourt.com
Current champions (2019)
Men's singlesChile Cristian Garín
Men's doublesMexico Santiago González
Pakistan Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi

The U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship is an annual ATP Tour tennis tournament that started in 1910. It is the last remaining ATP World Tour-level tournament in the United States to be played on clay courts.

The tournament began in 1910 when the Western Lawn Tennis Association (a section of the United States Lawn Tennis Association now known as the USTA/Midwest) lobbied the USLTA that a National Clay Court Championship would help promote the establishment of more clay courts in the West. Clay courts were more economical to install and maintain than grass courts, and the hope was that the lower costs associated with court construction would allow for a more rapid expansion of the game. The first National Clay Court Championships were held at the Omaha Field Club with a crowd of 5,000 watching the finals. Participation and play on clay grew as a result of the event and others, and in 1914 the event was moved to the Cincinnati Tennis Club. It has since been played in numerous cities, with long stints in River Forest and Indianapolis, and is today held in Houston, Texas.[1] Between 1970 and 1989 it was part of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour as part of the Grand Prix Super Series of events (1974–1977). During the stint in Indianapolis from 1969 through 1986 the tournament was a combined men's end women's event.

Relocation[]

The event was held at the Houston Westside Tennis Club from 2001–07. In May 2007, the U.S. Tennis Association announced that the River Oaks Country Club in the River Oaks neighborhood would host the tournament starting in 2008, keeping the event in Houston for several years. Other cities that competed for the event were Atlanta, Georgia, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. The tournament pays out US$474,000 with the winner receiving US$85,900.[2] The River Oaks venue features a stadium with seating for 3,000 with temporary seating for 500 for the second court.[3]

In 2007, after a few years being held on the same red clay used at the French Open, the event was held on Har-Tru green clay. In 2008, the event went to a maroon color of Har-Tru clay as the River Oaks Country Club renovated their courts in 2005. After renovating their courts again in late 2008, the surface remained the same.

Past finals[]

River Oaks Country Club

Singles[]

Bill Tilden holds the record for most titles (7).
Bill Tilden and Frank Parker co-hold the record of most finals (8).

Year City Champions Runners-up Score
1910 Omaha, Nebraska United States Melville H. Long United States Walter Merrill Hall 6–0, 6–1, 6–1
1911 United States United States Percy D. Siverd 7–5, 6–2, 6–1
1912 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania United States Richard N. Williams United States 6–3, 6–1, 8–6
1913 Omaha, Nebraska United States John R. Strachan United States Walter Merrill Hall 6–0, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1914 Cincinnati, Ohio United States Clarence Griffin United States Elia Fottrell 3–6, 6–8, 8–6, 6–0, 6–2
1915 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania United States Richard N. Williams United States Clarence Griffin Default
1916 Cleveland, Ohio United States Willis E. Davis United States 6–2, 7–5, 6–3
1917 United States United States Charles Garland 3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1918 Chicago, Illinois United States Bill Tilden United States Charles Garland 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1919 United States William Johnston[4] United States Bill Tilden 6–0, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1920 United States Roland Roberts United States Vincent Richards 6–3, 6–1, 6–3
1921 United States United States 6–0, 6–2, 6–4
1922 Indianapolis, Indiana United States Bill Tilden Japan Zenzo Shimizu 7–5, 6–3, 6–1
1923 United States Bill Tilden Spain Manuel Alonso 6–2, 6–8, 6–1, 7–5
1924 St. Louis, Missouri United States Bill Tilden United States 6–2, 6–1, 6–1
1925 United States Bill Tilden United States George Lott 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–2, 8–6
1926 Detroit, Michigan United States Bill Tilden South Africa Brian I. C. Norton Default
1927 United States Bill Tilden United States John F. Hennessey 6–4, 6–1, 6–2
1928 Not Held
1929 Indianapolis, Indiana United States Emmett Paré United States 6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 3–6, 6–1
1930 Kansas City, Missouri United States Bryan Grant United States Wilbur F. Coen, Jr. 6–2, 6–4, 6–2
1931 St. Louis, Missouri United States Ellsworth Vines United States Keith Gledhill 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1932 Memphis, Tennessee United States George Lott United States Bryan Grant 3–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
1933 Chicago, Illinois United States Frank Parker United States Gene Mako 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1934 United States Bryan Grant United States Donald Budge 6–2, 8–6, 6–3
1935 United States Bryan Grant United States Frank Parker 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0
1936 River Forest, Illinois United States Bobby Riggs United States Frank Parker 6–1, 6–8, 6–4
1937 Chicago, Illinois United States Bobby Riggs United States Joe Hunt 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1938 River Forest, Illinois United States Bobby Riggs United States Gardnar Mulloy 6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 6–1, 7–5
1939 Chicago, Illinois United States Frank Parker United States Gardnar Mulloy 6–3, 6–0, 5–7, 6–1
1940 United States Donald McNeill United States Bobby Riggs 6–1, 6–4, 6–8, 6–3
1941 River Forest, Illinois United States Frank Parker United States Bobby Riggs 6–3, 7–5, 6–8, 4–6, 6–3
1942 St. Louis, Missouri United States Seymour Greenberg United States 5–7, 7–5, 7–9, 7–5
1943 Detroit, Michigan United States Seymour Greenberg United States William Talbert 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1944 United States Pancho Segura United States William Talbert 6–3, 2–6, 7–5, 6–3
1945 Chicago, Illinois United States William Talbert United States Pancho Segura 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 2–6, 6–2
1946 River Forest, Illinois United States Frank Parker United States William Talbert 6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1947 Salt Lake City, Utah United States Frank Parker United States Ted Schroeder 8–6, 6–2, 6–4
1948 River Forest, Illinois United States Pancho Gonzalez United States Nick Carter 7–5, 6–2, 6–3
1949 United States Pancho Gonzalez United States Frank Parker 6–1, 3–6, 8–6, 6–3
1950 United States Herbert Flam United States Ted Schroeder 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
1951 United States Tony Trabert United States Arthur Larsen 6–8, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 8–6
1952 United States Arthur Larsen United States Richard Savitt 4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–4
1953 United States Vic Seixas United States Hamilton Richardson 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1954 United States Bernard Bartzen United States Tony Trabert 6–4, 4–6, 6–0, 6–2
1955 Atlanta, Georgia United States Tony Trabert United States Bernard Bartzen 10–8, 6–1, 6–4
1956 River Forest, Illinois United States Herbert Flam United States Edward Moylan 3–6, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 6–3
1957 United States Vic Seixas United States Herbert Flam 1–6, 8–6, 6–1, 6–3
1958 United States Bernard Bartzen United States Sam Giammalva 3–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–2
1959 United States Bernard Bartzen United States Whitney Reed 6–0, 8–6, 9–7
1960 United States Barry MacKay United States Bernard Bartzen 4–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–0
1961 United States Bernard Bartzen United States Donald Dell 6–1, 2–6, 6–2, 6–0
1962 Chicago, Illinois United States Chuck McKinley Australia Fred Stolle 6–3, 8–6, 6–4
1963 River Forest, Illinois United States Chuck McKinley United States Dennis Ralston 6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1964 United States Dennis Ralston United States Chuck McKinley 6–2, 6–2, 6–1
1965 United States Dennis Ralston United States Cliff Richey 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1966 Milwaukee, Wisconsin United States Cliff Richey United States Frank Froehling III 13–11, 6–1, 6–3
1967 United States Arthur Ashe United States Marty Riessen 4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 7–5
1968 United States Clark Graebner United States Stan Smith 6–3, 7–5, 6–0
1969 Indianapolis, Indiana Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Franulović United States Arthur Ashe 8–6, 6–3, 6–4
1970 United States Cliff Richey United States Stan Smith 6–2, 10–8, 3–6, 6–1
1971 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Franulović United States Cliff Richey 6–3, 6–4, 0–6, 6–3
1972 South Africa Bob Hewitt United States Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–1, 6–2
1973 Spain Manuel Orantes France Georges Goven 6–4, 6–1, 6–4
1974 United States Jimmy Connors Sweden Björn Borg 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1975 Spain Manuel Orantes United States Arthur Ashe 6–2, 6–2
1976 United States Jimmy Connors Poland Wojtek Fibak 6–2, 6–4
1977 Spain Manuel Orantes United States Jimmy Connors 6–1, 6–3
1978 United States Jimmy Connors Spain José Higueras 7–5, 6–1
1979 United States Jimmy Connors Argentina Guillermo Vilas 6–1, 2–6, 6–4
1980 Argentina José Luis Clerc United States Mel Purcell 7–5, 6–3
1981 Argentina José Luis Clerc Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1982 Spain José Higueras United States Jimmy Arias 7–5, 5–7, 6–3
1983 United States Jimmy Arias Ecuador Andrés Gómez 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1984 Ecuador Andrés Gómez Hungary Balázs Taróczy 6–0, 7–6
1985 Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl Ecuador Andrés Gómez 6–1, 6–3
1986 Ecuador Andrés Gómez (2) France Thierry Tulasne 6–4, 7–6
1987 Sweden Mats Wilander Sweden Kent Carlsson 7–5, 6–3
1988 Charleston, South Carolina United States Andre Agassi United States Jimmy Arias 6–2, 6–2
1989 United States Jay Berger United States Lawson Duncan 6–4, 6–3
1990 Kiawah Island, South Carolina United States David Wheaton South Africa Mark Kaplan 6–4, 6–4
1991 Charlotte, North Carolina Peru Jaime Yzaga United States Jimmy Arias 6–3, 7–5
1992 United States MaliVai Washington Switzerland Claudio Mezzadri 6–3, 6–3
1993 Argentina Horacio de la Peña Peru Jaime Yzaga 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1994 Birmingham, Alabama Australia Jason Stoltenberg Argentina Gabriel Markus 6–3, 6–4
1995 Pinehurst, North Carolina Sweden Thomas Enqvist Argentina Javier Frana 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1996 Brazil Fernando Meligeni Sweden Mats Wilander 6–4, 6–2
1997 Orlando, Florida United States Michael Chang South Africa Grant Stafford 4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1998 United States Jim Courier United States Michael Chang 7–5, 3–6, 7–5
1999 Sweden Magnus Norman Argentina Guillermo Cañas 6–0, 6–3
2000 Chile Fernando González Chile Nicolás Massú 6–2, 6–3
2001 Houston, Texas United States Andy Roddick South Korea Hyung-Taik Lee 7–5, 6–3
2002 United States Andy Roddick (2) United States Pete Sampras 7–6(11–9), 6–3
2003 United States Andre Agassi (2) United States Andy Roddick 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
2004 Germany Tommy Haas United States Andy Roddick 6–3, 6–4
2005 United States Andy Roddick (3) France Sébastien Grosjean 6–2, 6–2
2006 United States Mardy Fish Austria Jürgen Melzer 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
2007 Croatia Ivo Karlović Argentina Mariano Zabaleta 6–4, 6–1
2008 Spain Marcel Granollers United States James Blake 6–4, 1–6, 7–5
2009 Australia Lleyton Hewitt United States Wayne Odesnik 6–2, 7–5
2010 Argentina Juan Ignacio Chela United States Sam Querrey 5–7, 6–4, 6–3
2011 United States Ryan Sweeting Japan Kei Nishikori 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
2012 Argentina Juan Mónaco United States John Isner 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
2013 United States John Isner Spain Nicolás Almagro 6–3, 7–5
2014 Spain Fernando Verdasco Spain Nicolás Almagro 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
2015 United States Jack Sock United States Sam Querrey 7–6(11–9), 7–6(7–2)
2016 Argentina Juan Mónaco (2) United States Jack Sock 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
2017 United States Steve Johnson Brazil Thomaz Bellucci 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(7–5)
2018 United States Steve Johnson (2) United States Tennys Sandgren 7–6(7–2), 2–6, 6–4
2019 Chile Cristian Garín Norway Casper Ruud 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–3
2020–2021 Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022

Doubles[]

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1970 United States Arthur Ashe
United States Clark Graebner
Romania Ilie Năstase
Romania Ion Țiriac
2–6, 6–4, 6–4
1971 Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Franulović
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
United States Clark Graebner
United States Erik van Dillen
7–6, 5–7, 6–3
1972 South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan
Chile Patricio Cornejo
Chile Jaime Fillol
6–2, 6–3
1973 Australia Bob Carmichael
South Africa Frew McMillan
Spain Manuel Orantes
Romania Ion Țiriac
6–3, 6–4
1974 United States Jimmy Connors
Romania Ilie Năstase
Germany Jürgen Fassbender
Germany Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
6–7, 6–3, 6–4
1975 Spain Juan Gisbert
Spain Manuel Orantes
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Germany Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
7–5, 6–0
1976 United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
United States Fred McNair
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–2, 6–2
1977 Chile Patricio Cornejo
Chile Jaime Fillol
United States Dick Crealy
Australia Cliff Letcher
6–7, 6–4, 6–3
1978 United States Gene Mayer
United States Hank Pfister
United States Jeff Borowiak
New Zealand Chris Lewis
6–3, 6–1
1979 United States Gene Mayer
United States John McEnroe
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
6–4, 7–6
1980 United States Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
1981 United States Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
United States Van Winitsky
6–3, 5–7, 7–5
1982 United States Sherwood Stewart
United States Ferdi Taygan
South Africa Robbie Venter
United States Blaine Willenborg
6–4, 7–5
1983 Australia Mark Edmondson
United States Sherwood Stewart
Brazil Carlos Kirmayr
Brazil Cássio Motta
6–3, 6–2
1984 United States Ken Flach
United States Robert Seguso
Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
7–6, 7–5
1985 United States Ken Flach
United States Robert Seguso
Czech Republic Pavel Složil
Australia Kim Warwick
6–4, 6–4
1986 Ecuador Andrés Gómez
Chile Hans Gildemeister
Australia John Fitzgerald
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–4, 6–3
1987 Australia Laurie Warder
United States Blaine Willenborg
Sweden Joakim Nyström
Sweden Mats Wilander
6–0, 6–3
1988 South Africa Pieter Aldrich
South Africa Danie Visser
Mexico Jorge Lozano
United States Todd Witsken
7–6, 6–3
1989 Sweden Mikael Pernfors
Sweden Tobias Svantesson
Mexico Agustín Moreno
Peru Jaime Yzaga
6–4, 4–6, 7–5
1990 United States Scott Davis
United States David Pate
United States Jim Grabb
Mexico Leonardo Lavalle
6–2, 6–3
1991 United States Rick Leach
United States Jim Pugh
United States Bret Garnett
United States Greg Van Emburgh
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1992 United States Steve DeVries
Australia David Macpherson
United States Bret Garnett
United States Jared Palmer
6–4, 7–6
1993 Sweden Rikard Bergh
United States Trevor Kronemann
Argentina Javier Frana
Mexico Leonardo Lavalle
6–1, 6–2
1994 Australia Todd Woodbridge
Australia Mark Woodforde
United States Jared Palmer
United States Richey Reneberg
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
1995 Australia Mark Woodforde
Australia Todd Woodbridge
United States Alex O'Brien
Australia Sandon Stolle
6–2, 6–4
1996 Australia Pat Cash
Australia Patrick Rafter
United States Ken Flach
United States David Wheaton
6–2, 6–3
1997 The Bahamas Mark Merklein
United States Vince Spadea
United States Alex O'Brien
United States Jeff Salzenstein
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1998 South Africa Grant Stafford
Zimbabwe Kevin Ullyett
Australia Michael Tebbutt
Sweden Mikael Tillström
4–6, 6–4, 7–5
1999 United States Jim Courier
Australia Todd Woodbridge
United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
7–6(7–4), 6–4
2000 India Leander Paes
Netherlands Jan Siemerink
United States Justin Gimelstob
Canada Sébastien Lareau
6–3, 6–4
2001 India Mahesh Bhupathi
India Leander Paes
United States Kevin Kim
United States Jim Thomas
7–6(7–4), 6–2
2002 United States Mardy Fish
United States Andy Roddick
United States Jan-Michael Gambill
United States Graydon Oliver
6–4, 6–4
2003 The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
United States Jan-Michael Gambill
United States Graydon Oliver
6–4, 6–3
2004 United States Richey Reneberg
South Africa Christo van Rensburg
United States Brian MacPhie
United States David Witt
2–6, 6–3, 6–2
2005 The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
Argentina Martín García
Peru Luis Horna
6–3, 6–4
2006 Germany Michael Kohlmann
Germany Alexander Waske
Austria Julian Knowle
Austria Jürgen Melzer
5–7, 6–4, 10–5
2007 United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
7–6(7–3), 6–4
2008 Latvia Ernests Gulbis
Germany Rainer Schüttler
Uruguay Pablo Cuevas
Spain Marcel Granollers
7–5, 7–6(7–3)
2009 United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
United States Jesse Levine
United States Ryan Sweeting
6–1, 6–2
2010 United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
Australia Stephen Huss
South Africa Wesley Moodie
6–3, 7–5
2011 United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
United States John Isner
United States Sam Querrey
6–7, 6–2, [10–5]
2012 United States James Blake
United States Sam Querrey
Philippines Treat Conrad Huey
United Kingdom Dominic Inglot
7–6(16–14), 6–4
2013 United Kingdom Jamie Murray
Australia John Peers
United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
1–6, 7–6(7–3), [12–10]
2014 United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
Spain David Marrero
Spain Fernando Verdasco
4–6, 6–4, [11–9]
2015 Lithuania Ričardas Berankis
Russia Teymuraz Gabashvili
Philippines Treat Huey
United States Scott Lipsky
6–4, 6–4
2016 United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
Dominican Republic Víctor Estrella Burgos
Mexico Santiago González
4–6, 6–3, [10–8]
2017 Chile Julio Peralta
Argentina Horacio Zeballos
Germany Dustin Brown
United States Frances Tiafoe
4–6, 7–5, [10–6]
2018 Belarus Max Mirnyi
Austria Philipp Oswald
Germany Andre Begemann
Croatia Antonio Šančić
6–7(2–7), 6–4, [11–9]
2019 Mexico Santiago González
Pakistan Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
United Kingdom Ken Skupski
United Kingdom Neal Skupski
3–6, 6–4, [10–6]
2020–2021 Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022

Records[]

Men's singles[]

Source: The Tennisbase included[5]

  • Most titles: United States Bill Tilden, (7)
  • Most consecutive titles: United States Bill Tilden, (6)
  • Most finals: United States Bill Tilden, (8)
  • Most consecutive finals: United States Bill Tilden, (6)
  • Most matches played: United States Tut Bartzen, (64)
  • Most matches won: United States Frank Parker, (56)
  • Most consecutive match wins: United States Bill Tilden, (36)
  • Most editions played: United States Seymour Greenberg and United States Grant Golden, (16)
  • Best Match winning %:United States Bill Tilden (97.96%)
  • Longest final: United States Seymour Greenberg v United States Harris Everett, result: 5–7, 7–5, 7–9, 7–5 (66 games), (1942)
  • Shortest final: Sweden Magnus Norman v Argentina Guillermo Cañas, result: 6–0, 6–3 (15 games), (1999)
  • Title with the least games lost: United States Andre Agassi, (23), (2003)
  • Oldest champion: United States , 40y 7m and 18d, (1917)
  • Youngest champion: United States Frank Parker, 17y 5m and 3d, (1933)

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Clifford Terry (July 11, 1965). "Tennis by the quartz". Chicago Tribune. pp. Sunday Magazine, 16–19.
  2. ^ "Tournament profile". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
  3. ^ Robertson, Dale (May 8, 2007). "Clay Courts finds new home at River Oaks". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved December 11, 2014.
  4. ^ "W.M. Johnston Wins Two Tennis Titles". The Toronto World. Chicago. July 21, 1919. p. 8.
  5. ^ Garcia, Gabriel. "US Clay Court Championships Tournament Records". thetennisbase.com. Madrid, Spain: Tennismem SL. Retrieved 25 November 2017.

Sources[]

  • References used for the Pre-Open Era locations and champions: United States Lawn Tennis Association Yearbook (1942–'44, '48–49, '51, '53. '55–56, '60, '64, '66 & '69), Spalding Lawn Tennis Annual (1916, '24–'28, '30–'31 & '39), Wright & Ditson's Lawn Tennis Annual (1911–'14, 1921, 1932–'33, '35 & '37), New York Times articles (1910–'14, '16, '18–'19 & '21–'22), From Club Court to Center Court by Phillip S. Smith (2007 Edition, page 67).

External links[]

Awards and achievements
Preceded by ATP International Series Tournament of the Year
2003, 2004
(shared with Båstad)
Succeeded by
Båstad

Coordinates: 29°45′11″N 95°25′26″W / 29.753°N 95.424°W / 29.753; -95.424

Retrieved from ""