U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships

The U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships is an annual ATP Tour tennis tournament. Founded in 1910, it has been held in nearly two dozen cities, and since 2001 has been held in Houston, Texas.[1] It currently pays out US$474,000 with the winner receiving US$85,900.[2] It is the only remaining ATP World Tour-level tournament in the United States to be played on clay courts.

U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship
Tournament information
LocationHouston, Texas
United States
VenueRiver Oaks Country Club
CategoryGrand Prix Tour (1970–89)
ATP World Series
(1990–1999)
ATP International Series
(2000–2008)
ATP World Tour 250 series
(2009–2018)
ATP Tour 250 series
(2019–present)
SurfaceMaroon clay / outdoors
Draw28S / 16D
Prize money$642,735 (2023)
Websitemensclaycourt.com
Current champions (2023)
SinglesUnited States Frances Tiafoe
DoublesAustralia Max Purcell
Australia Jordan Thompson

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) persuaded the USLTA that a National Clay Court Championship would promote the construction of more clay courts in the West. Clay courts were cheaper to install and maintain than grass courts, and the hope was that these lower costs would accelerate the growth of the game's popularity. The first National Clay Court Championships were held at the Omaha Field Club; a crowd of 5,000 watched 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. 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 and women's event.

From 2001 to 2007, the event was held at the Houston Westside Tennis Club. 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 2007, the U.S. Tennis Association sought a new venue and entertained bids from Atlanta, Georgia; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; and Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. But in May 2007, the USTA announced that the tournament would simply move downtown to River Oaks Country Club in the River Oaks neighborhood. The new venue has a stadium with seating for 3,000 with temporary seating for 500 for the second court.[3] Its Har-Tru clay, of a maroon color, was renewed in 2005 and 2008.

Past finals

River Oaks Country Club

Singles

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

Year City Champions Runners-up Score
1910Omaha, NebraskaUnited States Melville H. LongUnited States Walter Merrill Hall6–0, 6–1, 6–1
1911United States Walter T. HayesUnited States Percy D. Siverd7–5, 6–2, 6–1
1912Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUnited States Richard N. WilliamsUnited States Walter T. Hayes6–3, 6–1, 8–6
1913Omaha, NebraskaUnited States John R. StrachanUnited States Walter Merrill Hall6–0, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1914Cincinnati, OhioUnited States Clarence GriffinUnited States Elia Fottrell3–6, 6–8, 8–6, 6–0, 6–2
1915Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaUnited States Richard N. Williams (2)United States Clarence GriffinDefault
1916Cleveland, OhioUnited States Willis E. DavisUnited States Conrad B. Doyle6–2, 7–5, 6–3
1917United States Samuel HardyUnited States Charles Garland3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1918Chicago, IllinoisUnited States Bill TildenUnited States Charles Garland6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1919United States William Johnston[4]United States Bill Tilden6–0, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1920United States Roland RobertsUnited States Vincent Richards6–3, 6–1, 6–3
1921United States Walter T. HayesUnited States Alexander Squair6–0, 6–2, 6–4
1922Indianapolis, IndianaUnited States Bill Tilden (2)Japan Zenzo Shimizu7–5, 6–3, 6–1
1923United States Bill Tilden (3)Spain Manuel Alonso6–2, 6–8, 6–1, 7–5
1924St. Louis, MissouriUnited States Bill Tilden (4)United States Harvey Snodgrass6–2, 6–1, 6–1
1925United States Bill Tilden (5)United States George Lott3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–2, 8–6
1926Detroit, MichiganUnited States Bill Tilden (6)South Africa Brian I. C. NortonDefault
1927United States Bill Tilden (7)United States John F. Hennessey6–4, 6–1, 6–2
1928Not held
1929Indianapolis, IndianaUnited States Emmett ParéUnited States J. Gilbert Hall6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 3–6, 6–1
1930Kansas City, MissouriUnited States Bryan GrantUnited States Wilbur F. Coen, Jr.6–2, 6–4, 6–2
1931St. Louis, MissouriUnited States Ellsworth VinesUnited States Keith Gledhill6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1932Memphis, TennesseeUnited States George LottUnited States Bryan Grant3–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
1933Chicago, IllinoisUnited States Frank ParkerUnited States Gene Mako6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1934United States Bryan Grant (2)United States Donald Budge6–2, 8–6, 6–3
1935United States Bryan Grant (3)United States Frank Parker4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0
1936River Forest, IllinoisUnited States Bobby RiggsUnited States Frank Parker6–1, 6–8, 6–4
1937Chicago, IllinoisUnited States Bobby Riggs (2)United States Joe Hunt6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1938River Forest, IllinoisUnited States Bobby Riggs (3)United States Gardnar Mulloy6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 6–1, 7–5
1939Chicago, IllinoisUnited States Frank ParkerUnited States Gardnar Mulloy6–3, 6–0, 5–7, 6–1
1940United States Donald McNeillUnited States Bobby Riggs6–1, 6–4, 6–8, 6–3
1941River Forest, IllinoisUnited States Frank Parker (2)United States Bobby Riggs6–3, 7–5, 6–8, 4–6, 6–3
1942St. Louis, MissouriUnited States Seymour GreenbergUnited States Harris Everett5–7, 7–5, 7–9, 7–5, 8–6
1943Detroit, MichiganUnited States Seymour Greenberg (2)United States William Talbert6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1944Ecuador Pancho SeguraUnited States William Talbert6–3, 2–6, 7–5, 6–3
1945Chicago, IllinoisUnited States William TalbertEcuador Pancho Segura6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 2–6, 6–2
1946River Forest, IllinoisUnited States Frank Parker (3)United States William Talbert6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1947Salt Lake City, UtahUnited States Frank Parker (4)United States Ted Schroeder8–6, 6–2, 6–4
1948River Forest, IllinoisUnited States Pancho GonzalezUnited States Nick Carter7–5, 6–2, 6–3
1949United States Pancho Gonzalez (2)United States Frank Parker6–1, 3–6, 8–6, 6–3
1950United States Herbert FlamUnited States Ted Schroeder6–1, 6–2, 6–2
1951United States Tony TrabertUnited States Arthur Larsen6–8, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 8–6
1952United States Arthur LarsenUnited States Richard Savitt4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–4
1953United States Vic SeixasUnited States Hamilton Richardson6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1954United States Bernard BartzenUnited States Tony Trabert6–4, 4–6, 6–0, 6–2
1955Atlanta, GeorgiaUnited States Tony Trabert (2)United States Bernard Bartzen10–8, 6–1, 6–4
1956River Forest, IllinoisUnited States Herbert Flam (2)United States Edward Moylan3–6, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 6–3
1957United States Vic Seixas (2)United States Herbert Flam1–6, 8–6, 6–1, 6–3
1958United States Bernard BartzenUnited States Sam Giammalva3–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–2
1959United States Bernard Bartzen (2)United States Whitney Reed6–0, 8–6, 9–7
1960United States Barry MacKayUnited States Bernard Bartzen4–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–0
1961United States Bernard Bartzen (3)United States Donald Dell6–1, 2–6, 6–2, 6–0
1962Chicago, IllinoisUnited States Chuck McKinleyAustralia Fred Stolle6–3, 8–6, 6–4
1963River Forest, IllinoisUnited States Chuck McKinley (2)United States Dennis Ralston6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1964United States Dennis RalstonUnited States Chuck McKinley6–2, 6–2, 6–1
1965United States Dennis Ralston (2)United States Cliff Richey6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1966Milwaukee, WisconsinUnited States Cliff RicheyUnited States Frank Froehling III13–11, 6–1, 6–3
1967United States Arthur AsheUnited States Marty Riessen4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 7–5
1968United States Clark GraebnerUnited States Stan Smith6–3, 7–5, 6–0
  Open Era  
1969Indianapolis, IndianaSocialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko FranulovićUnited States Arthur Ashe8–6, 6–3, 6–4
1970United States Cliff Richey (2)United States Stan Smith6–2, 10–8, 3–6, 6–1
1971Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Franulović (2)United States Cliff Richey6–3, 6–4, 0–6, 6–3
1972South Africa Bob HewittUnited States Jimmy Connors7–6, 6–1, 6–2
1973Spain Manuel OrantesFrance Georges Goven6–4, 6–1, 6–4
1974United States Jimmy ConnorsSweden Björn Borg5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1975Spain Manuel Orantes (2)United States Arthur Ashe6–2, 6–2
1976United States Jimmy Connors (2)Poland Wojtek Fibak6–2, 6–4
1977Spain Manuel Orantes (3)United States Jimmy Connors6–1, 6–3
1978United States Jimmy Connors (3)Spain José Higueras7–5, 6–1
1979United States Jimmy Connors (4)Argentina Guillermo Vilas6–1, 2–6, 6–4
1980Argentina José Luis ClercUnited States Mel Purcell7–5, 6–3
1981Argentina José Luis Clerc (2)Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1982Spain José HiguerasUnited States Jimmy Arias7–5, 5–7, 6–3
1983United States Jimmy AriasEcuador Andrés Gómez6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1984Ecuador Andrés GómezHungary Balázs Taróczy6–0, 7–6
1985Czechoslovakia Ivan LendlEcuador Andrés Gómez6–1, 6–3
1986Ecuador Andrés Gómez (2)France Thierry Tulasne6–4, 7–6
1987Sweden Mats WilanderSweden Kent Carlsson7–5, 6–3
1988Charleston, South CarolinaUnited States Andre AgassiUnited States Jimmy Arias6–2, 6–2
1989United States Jay BergerUnited States Lawson Duncan6–4, 6–3
1990Kiawah Island, South CarolinaUnited States David WheatonSouth Africa Mark Kaplan6–4, 6–4
1991Charlotte, North CarolinaPeru Jaime YzagaUnited States Jimmy Arias6–3, 7–5
1992United States MaliVai WashingtonSwitzerland Claudio Mezzadri6–3, 6–3
1993Argentina Horacio de la PeñaPeru Jaime Yzaga3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1994Birmingham, AlabamaAustralia Jason StoltenbergArgentina Gabriel Markus6–3, 6–4
1995Pinehurst, North CarolinaSweden Thomas EnqvistArgentina Javier Frana6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1996Brazil Fernando MeligeniSweden Mats Wilander6–4, 6–2
1997Orlando, FloridaUnited States Michael ChangSouth Africa Grant Stafford4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1998United States Jim CourierUnited States Michael Chang7–5, 3–6, 7–5
1999Sweden Magnus NormanArgentina Guillermo Cañas6–0, 6–3
2000Chile Fernando GonzálezChile Nicolás Massú6–2, 6–3
2001Houston, TexasUnited States Andy RoddickSouth Korea Hyung-Taik Lee7–5, 6–3
2002United States Andy Roddick (2)United States Pete Sampras7–6(11–9), 6–3
2003United States Andre Agassi (2)United States Andy Roddick3–6, 6–3, 6–4
2004Germany Tommy HaasUnited States Andy Roddick6–3, 6–4
2005United States Andy Roddick (3)France Sébastien Grosjean6–2, 6–2
2006United States Mardy FishAustria Jürgen Melzer3–6, 6–4, 6–3
2007Croatia Ivo KarlovićArgentina Mariano Zabaleta6–4, 6–1
2008Spain Marcel GranollersUnited States James Blake6–4, 1–6, 7–5
2009Australia Lleyton HewittUnited States Wayne Odesnik6–2, 7–5
2010Argentina Juan Ignacio ChelaUnited States Sam Querrey5–7, 6–4, 6–3
2011United States Ryan SweetingJapan Kei Nishikori6–4, 7–6(7–3)
2012Argentina Juan MónacoUnited States John Isner6–2, 3–6, 6–3
2013United States John IsnerSpain Nicolás Almagro6–3, 7–5
2014Spain Fernando VerdascoSpain Nicolás Almagro6–3, 7–6(7–4)
2015United States Jack SockUnited States Sam Querrey7–6(11–9), 7–6(7–2)
2016Argentina Juan Mónaco (2) United States Jack Sock3–6, 6–3, 7–5
2017United States Steve JohnsonBrazil Thomaz Bellucci6–4, 4–6, 7–6(7–5)
2018United States Steve Johnson (2) United States Tennys Sandgren7–6(7–2), 2–6, 6–4
2019Chile Cristian GarínNorway Casper Ruud7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–3
2020–2021Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022United States Reilly OpelkaUnited States John Isner6–3, 7–6(9–7)
2023United States Frances TiafoeArgentina Tomás Martín Etcheverry7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6)

Doubles (open era)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1969Australia Bill Bowrey
United States Clark Graebner
Australia Dick Crealy
Australia Allan Stone
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1970United States Arthur Ashe
United States Clark Graebner
Romania Ilie Năstase
Romania Ion Țiriac
2–6, 6–4, 6–4
1971Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Željko Franulović
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
United States Clark Graebner
United States Erik van Dillen
7–6, 5–7, 6–3
1972South Africa Bob Hewitt
South Africa Frew McMillan
Chile Patricio Cornejo
Chile Jaime Fillol
6–2, 6–3
1973Australia Bob Carmichael
South Africa Frew McMillan
Spain Manuel Orantes
Romania Ion Țiriac
6–3, 6–4
1974United States Jimmy Connors
Romania Ilie Năstase
Germany Jürgen Fassbender
Germany Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
6–7, 6–3, 6–4
1975Spain Juan Gisbert
Spain Manuel Orantes
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Germany Hans-Jürgen Pohmann
7–5, 6–0
1976United States Brian Gottfried
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
United States Fred McNair
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–2, 6–2
1977Chile Patricio Cornejo
Chile Jaime Fillol
United States Dick Crealy
Australia Cliff Letcher
6–7, 6–4, 6–3
1978United States Gene Mayer
United States Hank Pfister
United States Jeff Borowiak
New Zealand Chris Lewis
6–3, 6–1
1979United States Gene Mayer
United States John McEnroe
Czechoslovakia Jan Kodeš
Czechoslovakia Tomáš Šmíd
6–4, 7–6
1980United States Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
Poland Wojciech Fibak
Czechoslovakia Ivan Lendl
3–6, 7–6, 6–4
1981United States Kevin Curren
United States Steve Denton
Mexico Raúl Ramírez
United States Van Winitsky
6–3, 5–7, 7–5
1982United States Sherwood Stewart
United States Ferdi Taygan
South Africa Robbie Venter
United States Blaine Willenborg
6–4, 7–5
1983Australia Mark Edmondson
United States Sherwood Stewart
Brazil Carlos Kirmayr
Brazil Cássio Motta
6–3, 6–2
1984United States Ken Flach
United States Robert Seguso
Switzerland Heinz Günthardt
Hungary Balázs Taróczy
7–6, 7–5
1985United States Ken Flach
United States Robert Seguso
Czech Republic Pavel Složil
Australia Kim Warwick
6–4, 6–4
1986Ecuador Andrés Gómez
Chile Hans Gildemeister
Australia John Fitzgerald
United States Sherwood Stewart
6–4, 6–3
1987Australia Laurie Warder
United States Blaine Willenborg
Sweden Joakim Nyström
Sweden Mats Wilander
6–0, 6–3
1988South Africa Pieter Aldrich
South Africa Danie Visser
Mexico Jorge Lozano
United States Todd Witsken
7–6, 6–3
1989Sweden Mikael Pernfors
Sweden Tobias Svantesson
Mexico Agustín Moreno
Peru Jaime Yzaga
6–4, 4–6, 7–5
1990United States Scott Davis
United States David Pate
United States Jim Grabb
Mexico Leonardo Lavalle
6–2, 6–3
1991United States Rick Leach
United States Jim Pugh
United States Bret Garnett
United States Greg Van Emburgh
6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1992United States Steve DeVries
Australia David Macpherson
United States Bret Garnett
United States Jared Palmer
6–4, 7–6
1993Sweden Rikard Bergh
United States Trevor Kronemann
Argentina Javier Frana
Mexico Leonardo Lavalle
6–1, 6–2
1994Australia Todd Woodbridge
Australia Mark Woodforde
United States Jared Palmer
United States Richey Reneberg
6–2, 3–6, 6–3
1995Australia Mark Woodforde
Australia Todd Woodbridge
United States Alex O'Brien
Australia Sandon Stolle
6–2, 6–4
1996Australia Pat Cash
Australia Patrick Rafter
United States Ken Flach
United States David Wheaton
6–2, 6–3
1997The Bahamas Mark Merklein
United States Vince Spadea
United States Alex O'Brien
United States Jeff Salzenstein
6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1998South Africa Grant Stafford
Zimbabwe Kevin Ullyett
Australia Michael Tebbutt
Sweden Mikael Tillström
4–6, 6–4, 7–5
1999United States Jim Courier
Australia Todd Woodbridge
United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
7–6(7–4), 6–4
2000India Leander Paes
Netherlands Jan Siemerink
United States Justin Gimelstob
Canada Sébastien Lareau
6–3, 6–4
2001India Mahesh Bhupathi
India Leander Paes
United States Kevin Kim
United States Jim Thomas
7–6(7–4), 6–2
2002United States Mardy Fish
United States Andy Roddick
United States Jan-Michael Gambill
United States Graydon Oliver
6–4, 6–4
2003The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
United States Jan-Michael Gambill
United States Graydon Oliver
6–4, 6–3
2004United States Richey Reneberg
South Africa Christo van Rensburg
United States Brian MacPhie
United States David Witt
2–6, 6–3, 6–2
2005The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
Argentina Martín García
Peru Luis Horna
6–3, 6–4
2006Germany Michael Kohlmann
Germany Alexander Waske
Austria Julian Knowle
Austria Jürgen Melzer
5–7, 6–4, 10–5
2007United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
The Bahamas Mark Knowles
Canada Daniel Nestor
7–6(7–3), 6–4
2008Latvia Ernests Gulbis
Germany Rainer Schüttler
Uruguay Pablo Cuevas
Spain Marcel Granollers
7–5, 7–6(7–3)
2009United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
United States Jesse Levine
United States Ryan Sweeting
6–1, 6–2
2010United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
Australia Stephen Huss
South Africa Wesley Moodie
6–3, 7–5
2011United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
United States John Isner
United States Sam Querrey
6–7, 6–2, [10–5]
2012United States James Blake
United States Sam Querrey
Philippines Treat Conrad Huey
United Kingdom Dominic Inglot
7–6(16–14), 6–4
2013United Kingdom Jamie Murray
Australia John Peers
United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
1–6, 7–6(7–3), [12–10]
2014United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
Spain David Marrero
Spain Fernando Verdasco
4–6, 6–4, [11–9]
2015Lithuania Ričardas Berankis
Russia Teymuraz Gabashvili
Philippines Treat Huey
United States Scott Lipsky
6–4, 6–4
2016United States Bob Bryan
United States Mike Bryan
Dominican Republic Víctor Estrella Burgos
Mexico Santiago González
4–6, 6–3, [10–8]
2017Chile Julio Peralta
Argentina Horacio Zeballos
Germany Dustin Brown
United States Frances Tiafoe
4–6, 7–5, [10–6]
2018Belarus Max Mirnyi
Austria Philipp Oswald
Germany Andre Begemann
Croatia Antonio Šančić
6–7(2–7), 6–4, [11–9]
2019Mexico Santiago González
Pakistan Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi
United Kingdom Ken Skupski
United Kingdom Neal Skupski
3–6, 6–4, [10–6]
2020–2021Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022Australia Matthew Ebden
Australia Max Purcell
Serbia Ivan Sabanov
Serbia Matej Sabanov
6–3, 6–3
2023Australia Max Purcell
Australia Jordan Thompson
United Kingdom Julian Cash
United Kingdom Henry Patten
4–6, 6–4, [10–5]

Records

Men's singles

Most titles United States Bill Tilden 7
Most finals United States Bill Tilden 8
Most consecutive titles United States Bill Tilden
(1922-1927)
6
Most consecutive finals United States Bill Tilden
(1922-1927)
6
Title with the least games lost United States Andre Agassi 23
(2003)
Most matches played United States Tut Bartzen 64
Most matches won United States Frank Parker 56
Most consecutive matches won United States Bill Tilden 36
Most editions played United States Seymour Greenberg 16
United States Grant Golden
Best winning % United States Bill Tilden 97.96%
Youngest champion United States Frank Parker 17y, 5m, 3d
(1933)
Oldest champion United States Samuel Hardy 40y, 7m, 18d
(1917)
Longest final
1942 (66 games)
United States Seymour Greenberg 57778
United States Harris Everett 75956
Shortest final
1999 (15 games)
Sweden Magnus Norman 66
Argentina Guillermo Cañas 03

Source: The Tennisbase[5]

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 November 25, 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).

29.753°N 95.424°W / 29.753; -95.424

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