U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships

U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships
ATP Tour
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), $742,350 (2025)
Websitemensclaycourt.com
Current champions (2025)
Singles Jenson Brooksby
Doubles Fernando Romboli
John-Patrick Smith

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 is the only remaining ATP Tour-level tournament in the United States to be played on clay courts.[2]

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 switched to 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

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
1910 Omaha, Nebraska Melville H. Long Walter Merrill Hall 6–0, 6–1, 6–1
1911 Walter T. Hayes Percy D. Siverd 7–5, 6–2, 6–1
1912 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Richard N. Williams Walter T. Hayes 6–3, 6–1, 8–6
1913 Omaha, Nebraska John R. Strachan Walter Merrill Hall 6–0, 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1914 Cincinnati, Ohio Clarence Griffin Elia Fottrell 3–6, 6–8, 8–6, 6–0, 6–2
1915 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Richard N. Williams (2) Clarence Griffin Default
1916 Cleveland, Ohio Willis E. Davis Conrad B. Doyle 6–2, 7–5, 6–3
1917 Samuel Hardy Charles Garland 3–6, 6–1, 6–3, 6–3
1918 Chicago, Illinois Bill Tilden Charles Garland 6–4, 6–4, 3–6, 6–2
1919 William Johnston[4] Bill Tilden 6–0, 6–1, 4–6, 6–2
1920 Roland Roberts Vincent Richards 6–3, 6–1, 6–3
1921 Walter T. Hayes Alexander Squair 6–0, 6–2, 6–4
1922 Indianapolis, Indiana Bill Tilden (2) Zenzo Shimizu 7–5, 6–3, 6–1
1923 Bill Tilden (3) Manuel Alonso 6–2, 6–8, 6–1, 7–5
1924 St. Louis, Missouri Bill Tilden (4) Harvey Snodgrass 6–2, 6–1, 6–1
1925 Bill Tilden (5) George Lott 3–6, 6–3, 2–6, 6–2, 8–6
1926 Detroit, Michigan Bill Tilden (6) Brian I. C. Norton Default
1927 Bill Tilden (7) John F. Hennessey 6–4, 6–1, 6–2
1928 Not held
1929 Indianapolis, Indiana Emmett Paré J. Gilbert Hall 6–4, 6–3, 4–6, 3–6, 6–1
1930 Kansas City, Missouri Bryan Grant Wilbur F. Coen, Jr. 6–2, 6–4, 6–2
1931 St. Louis, Missouri Ellsworth Vines Keith Gledhill 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1932 Memphis, Tennessee George Lott Bryan Grant 3–6, 6–2, 3–6, 6–3, 6–3
1933 Chicago, Illinois Frank Parker Gene Mako 6–3, 6–3, 6–3
1934 Bryan Grant (2) Donald Budge 6–2, 8–6, 6–3
1935 Bryan Grant (3) Frank Parker 4–6, 6–1, 3–6, 6–3, 6–0
1936 River Forest, Illinois Bobby Riggs Frank Parker 6–1, 6–8, 6–4
1937 Chicago, Illinois Bobby Riggs (2) Joe Hunt 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 6–4
1938 River Forest, Illinois Bobby Riggs (3) Gardnar Mulloy 6–4, 5–7, 4–6, 6–1, 7–5
1939 Chicago, Illinois Frank Parker (2) Gardnar Mulloy 6–3, 6–0, 5–7, 6–1
1940 Donald McNeill Bobby Riggs 6–1, 6–4, 6–8, 6–3
1941 River Forest, Illinois Frank Parker (3) Bobby Riggs 6–3, 7–5, 6–8, 4–6, 6–3
1942 St. Louis, Missouri Seymour Greenberg Harris Everett 5–7, 7–5, 7–9, 7–5, 8–6
1943 Detroit, Michigan Seymour Greenberg (2) William Talbert 6–1, 4–6, 6–3, 6–3
1944 Pancho Segura William Talbert 6–3, 2–6, 7–5, 6–3
1945 Chicago, Illinois William Talbert Pancho Segura 6–4, 4–6, 6–2, 2–6, 6–2
1946 River Forest, Illinois Frank Parker (4) William Talbert 6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1947 Salt Lake City, Utah Frank Parker (5) Ted Schroeder 8–6, 6–2, 6–4
1948 River Forest, Illinois Pancho Gonzalez Nick Carter 7–5, 6–2, 6–3
1949 Pancho Gonzalez (2) Frank Parker 6–1, 3–6, 8–6, 6–3
1950 Herbert Flam Ted Schroeder 6–1, 6–2, 6–2
1951 Tony Trabert Arthur Larsen 6–8, 2–6, 6–4, 6–3, 8–6
1952 Arthur Larsen Richard Savitt 4–6, 6–4, 6–2, 6–4
1953 Vic Seixas Hamilton Richardson 6–2, 6–4, 6–3
1954 Bernard Bartzen Tony Trabert 6–4, 4–6, 6–0, 6–2
1955 Atlanta, Georgia Tony Trabert (2) Bernard Bartzen 10–8, 6–1, 6–4
1956 River Forest, Illinois Herbert Flam (2) Edward Moylan 3–6, 6–3, 1–6, 6–3, 6–3
1957 Vic Seixas (2) Herbert Flam 1–6, 8–6, 6–1, 6–3
1958 Bernard Bartzen Sam Giammalva 3–6, 7–5, 6–2, 6–2
1959 Bernard Bartzen (2) Whitney Reed 6–0, 8–6, 9–7
1960 Barry MacKay (tennis) Bernard Bartzen 4–6, 7–5, 6–4, 6–0
1961 Bernard Bartzen (3) Donald Dell 6–1, 2–6, 6–2, 6–0
1962 Chicago, Illinois Chuck McKinley Fred Stolle 6–3, 8–6, 6–4
1963 River Forest, Illinois Chuck McKinley (2) Dennis Ralston 6–2, 6–2, 6–4
1964 Dennis Ralston Chuck McKinley 6–2, 6–2, 6–1
1965 Dennis Ralston (2) Cliff Richey 6–4, 4–6, 6–4, 6–3
1966 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Cliff Richey Frank Froehling III 13–11, 6–1, 6–3
1967 Arthur Ashe Marty Riessen 4–6, 6–3, 6–1, 7–5
1968 Clark Graebner Stan Smith 6–3, 7–5, 6–0
↓  Open Era  ↓
1969 Indianapolis, Indiana Željko Franulović Arthur Ashe 8–6, 6–3, 6–4
1970 Cliff Richey (2) Stan Smith 6–2, 10–8, 3–6, 6–1
1971 Željko Franulović (2) Cliff Richey 6–3, 6–4, 0–6, 6–3
1972 Bob Hewitt Jimmy Connors 7–6, 6–1, 6–2
1973 Manuel Orantes Georges Goven 6–4, 6–1, 6–4
1974 Jimmy Connors Björn Borg 5–7, 6–3, 6–4
1975 Manuel Orantes (2) Arthur Ashe 6–2, 6–2
1976 Jimmy Connors (2) Wojtek Fibak 6–2, 6–4
1977 Manuel Orantes (3) Jimmy Connors 6–1, 6–3
1978 Jimmy Connors (3) José Higueras 7–5, 6–1
1979 Jimmy Connors (4) Guillermo Vilas 6–1, 2–6, 6–4
1980 José Luis Clerc Mel Purcell 7–5, 6–3
1981 José Luis Clerc (2) Ivan Lendl 4–6, 6–4, 6–2
1982 José Higueras Jimmy Arias 7–5, 5–7, 6–3
1983 Jimmy Arias Andrés Gómez 6–4, 2–6, 6–4
1984 Andrés Gómez Balázs Taróczy 6–0, 7–6
1985 Ivan Lendl Andrés Gómez 6–1, 6–3
1986 Andrés Gómez (2) Thierry Tulasne 6–4, 7–6
1987 Mats Wilander Kent Carlsson 7–5, 6–3
1988 Charleston, South Carolina Andre Agassi Jimmy Arias 6–2, 6–2
1989 Jay Berger Lawson Duncan 6–4, 6–3
1990 Kiawah Island, South Carolina David Wheaton Mark Kaplan 6–4, 6–4
1991 Charlotte, North Carolina Jaime Yzaga Jimmy Arias 6–3, 7–5
1992 MaliVai Washington Claudio Mezzadri 6–3, 6–3
1993 Horacio de la Peña Jaime Yzaga 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
1994 Birmingham, Alabama Jason Stoltenberg Gabriel Markus 6–3, 6–4
1995 Pinehurst, North Carolina Thomas Enqvist Javier Frana 6–3, 3–6, 6–3
1996 Fernando Meligeni Mats Wilander 6–4, 6–2
1997 Orlando, Florida Michael Chang Grant Stafford 4–6, 6–2, 6–1
1998 Jim Courier Michael Chang 7–5, 3–6, 7–5
1999 Magnus Norman Guillermo Cañas 6–0, 6–3
2000 Fernando González Nicolás Massú 6–2, 6–3
2001 Houston, Texas Andy Roddick Hyung-Taik Lee 7–5, 6–3
2002 Andy Roddick (2) Pete Sampras 7–6(11–9), 6–3
2003 Andre Agassi (2) Andy Roddick 3–6, 6–3, 6–4
2004 Tommy Haas Andy Roddick 6–3, 6–4
2005 Andy Roddick (3) Sébastien Grosjean 6–2, 6–2
2006 Mardy Fish Jürgen Melzer 3–6, 6–4, 6–3
2007 Ivo Karlović Mariano Zabaleta 6–4, 6–1
2008 Marcel Granollers James Blake 6–4, 1–6, 7–5
2009 Lleyton Hewitt Wayne Odesnik 6–2, 7–5
2010 Juan Ignacio Chela Sam Querrey 5–7, 6–4, 6–3
2011 Ryan Sweeting Kei Nishikori 6–4, 7–6(7–3)
2012 Juan Mónaco John Isner 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
2013 John Isner Nicolás Almagro 6–3, 7–5
2014 Fernando Verdasco Nicolás Almagro 6–3, 7–6(7–4)
2015 Jack Sock Sam Querrey 7–6(11–9), 7–6(7–2)
2016 Juan Mónaco (2) Jack Sock 3–6, 6–3, 7–5
2017 Steve Johnson Thomaz Bellucci 6–4, 4–6, 7–6(7–5)
2018 Steve Johnson (2) Tennys Sandgren 7–6(7–2), 2–6, 6–4
2019 Cristian Garín Casper Ruud 7–6(7–4), 4–6, 6–3
2020–2021 Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Reilly Opelka John Isner 6–3, 7–6(9–7)
2023 Frances Tiafoe Tomás Martín Etcheverry 7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6)
2024 Ben Shelton Frances Tiafoe 7–5, 4–6, 6–3
2025 Jenson Brooksby Frances Tiafoe 6–4, 6–2

Doubles (open era)

Year Champions Runners-up Score
1969 Bill Bowrey
Clark Graebner		 Dick Crealy
Allan Stone		 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1970 Arthur Ashe
Clark Graebner		 Ilie Năstase
Ion Țiriac		 2–6, 6–4, 6–4
1971 Željko Franulović
Jan Kodeš		 Clark Graebner
Erik van Dillen		 7–6, 5–7, 6–3
1972 Bob Hewitt
Frew McMillan		 Patricio Cornejo
Jaime Fillol		 6–2, 6–3
1973 Bob Carmichael
Frew McMillan		 Manuel Orantes
Ion Țiriac		 6–3, 6–4
1974 Jimmy Connors
Ilie Năstase		 Jürgen Fassbender
Hans-Jürgen Pohmann		 6–7, 6–3, 6–4
1975 Juan Gisbert
Manuel Orantes		 Wojciech Fibak
Hans-Jürgen Pohmann		 7–5, 6–0
1976 Brian Gottfried
Raúl Ramírez		 Fred McNair
Sherwood Stewart		 6–2, 6–2
1977 Patricio Cornejo
Jaime Fillol		 Dick Crealy
Cliff Letcher		 6–7, 6–4, 6–3
1978 Gene Mayer
Hank Pfister		 Jeff Borowiak
Chris Lewis		 6–3, 6–1
1979 Gene Mayer
John McEnroe		 Jan Kodeš
Tomáš Šmíd		 6–4, 7–6
1980 Kevin Curren
Steve Denton		 Wojciech Fibak
Ivan Lendl		 3–6, 7–6, 6–4
1981 Kevin Curren
Steve Denton		 Raúl Ramírez
Van Winitsky		 6–3, 5–7, 7–5
1982 Sherwood Stewart
Ferdi Taygan		 Robbie Venter
Blaine Willenborg		 6–4, 7–5
1983 Mark Edmondson
Sherwood Stewart		 Carlos Kirmayr
Cássio Motta		 6–3, 6–2
1984 Ken Flach
Robert Seguso		 Heinz Günthardt
Balázs Taróczy		 7–6, 7–5
1985 Ken Flach
Robert Seguso		 Pavel Složil
Kim Warwick		 6–4, 6–4
1986 Andrés Gómez
Hans Gildemeister		 John Fitzgerald
Sherwood Stewart		 6–4, 6–3
1987 Laurie Warder
Blaine Willenborg		 Joakim Nyström
Mats Wilander		 6–0, 6–3
1988 Pieter Aldrich
Danie Visser		 Jorge Lozano
Todd Witsken		 7–6, 6–3
1989 Mikael Pernfors
Tobias Svantesson		 Agustín Moreno
Jaime Yzaga		 6–4, 4–6, 7–5
1990 Scott Davis
David Pate		 Jim Grabb
Leonardo Lavalle		 6–2, 6–3
1991 Rick Leach
Jim Pugh		 Bret Garnett
Greg Van Emburgh		 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
1992 Steve DeVries
David Macpherson		 Bret Garnett
Jared Palmer		 6–4, 7–6
1993 Rikard Bergh
Trevor Kronemann		 Javier Frana
Leonardo Lavalle		 6–1, 6–2
1994 Todd Woodbridge
Mark Woodforde		 Jared Palmer
Richey Reneberg		 6–2, 3–6, 6–3
1995 Mark Woodforde
Todd Woodbridge		 Alex O'Brien
Sandon Stolle		 6–2, 6–4
1996 Pat Cash
Patrick Rafter		 Ken Flach
David Wheaton		 6–2, 6–3
1997 Mark Merklein
Vince Spadea		 Alex O'Brien
Jeff Salzenstein		 6–4, 4–6, 6–4
1998 Grant Stafford
Kevin Ullyett		 Michael Tebbutt
Mikael Tillström		 4–6, 6–4, 7–5
1999 Jim Courier
Todd Woodbridge		 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan		 7–6(7–4), 6–4
2000 Leander Paes
Jan Siemerink		 Justin Gimelstob
Sébastien Lareau		 6–3, 6–4
2001 Mahesh Bhupathi
Leander Paes		 Kevin Kim
Jim Thomas		 7–6(7–4), 6–2
2002 Mardy Fish
Andy Roddick		 Jan-Michael Gambill
Graydon Oliver		 6–4, 6–4
2003 Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor		 Jan-Michael Gambill
Graydon Oliver		 6–4, 6–3
2004 Richey Reneberg
Christo van Rensburg		 Brian MacPhie
David Witt		 2–6, 6–3, 6–2
2005 Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor		 Martín García
Luis Horna		 6–3, 6–4
2006 Michael Kohlmann
Alexander Waske		 Julian Knowle
Jürgen Melzer		 5–7, 6–4, 10–5
2007 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan		 Mark Knowles
Daniel Nestor		 7–6(7–3), 6–4
2008 Ernests Gulbis
Rainer Schüttler		 Pablo Cuevas
Marcel Granollers		 7–5, 7–6(7–3)
2009 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan		 Jesse Levine
Ryan Sweeting		 6–1, 6–2
2010 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan		 Stephen Huss
Wesley Moodie		 6–3, 7–5
2011 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan		 John Isner
Sam Querrey		 6–7, 6–2, [10–5]
2012 James Blake
Sam Querrey		 Treat Conrad Huey
Dominic Inglot		 7–6(16–14), 6–4
2013 Jamie Murray
John Peers		 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan		 1–6, 7–6(7–3), [12–10]
2014 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan		 David Marrero
Fernando Verdasco		 4–6, 6–4, [11–9]
2015 Ričardas Berankis
Teymuraz Gabashvili		 Treat Huey
Scott Lipsky		 6–4, 6–4
2016 Bob Bryan
Mike Bryan		 Víctor Estrella Burgos
Santiago González		 4–6, 6–3, [10–8]
2017 Julio Peralta
Horacio Zeballos		 Dustin Brown
Frances Tiafoe		 4–6, 7–5, [10–6]
2018 Max Mirnyi
Philipp Oswald		 Andre Begemann
Antonio Šančić		 6–7(2–7), 6–4, [11–9]
2019 Santiago González
Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi		 Ken Skupski
Neal Skupski		 3–6, 6–4, [10–6]
2020–2021 Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2022 Matthew Ebden
Max Purcell		 Ivan Sabanov
Matej Sabanov		 6–3, 6–3
2023 Max Purcell
Jordan Thompson		 Julian Cash
Henry Patten		 4–6, 6–4, [10–5]
2024 Max Purcell
Jordan Thompson		 William Blumberg
John Peers		 7–5, 6–1
2025 Fernando Romboli
John-Patrick Smith		 Federico Agustín Gómez
Santiago González		 6–1, 6–4

Records

Men's singles

Most titles Bill Tilden 7
Most finals Bill Tilden
Frank Parker 		8
Most consecutive titles Bill Tilden
(1922-1927)
 6
Most consecutive finals Bill Tilden
(1922-1927)
 6
Title with the least games lost Andre Agassi 23
(2003)
Most matches played Tut Bartzen 64
Most matches won Frank Parker 56
Most consecutive matches won Bill Tilden 36
Most editions played Seymour Greenberg 16
Grant Golden
Best winning % Bill Tilden 97.96%
Youngest champion Frank Parker 17y, 5m, 3d
(1933)
Oldest champion Samuel Hardy 40y, 7m, 18d
(1917)
Longest final
1942 (66 games)
Seymour Greenberg 5 7 7 7 8
Harris Everett 7 5 9 5 6
Shortest final
1999 (15 games)
Magnus Norman 6 6
Guillermo Cañas 0 3

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).
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