Tennis tournament
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$ 742,350 with the winner receiving
US$ 100,635.
[2] It is the only 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) 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
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
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
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 (2)
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 (3)
William Talbert
6–4, 6–4, 6–2
1947
Salt Lake City, Utah
Frank Parker (4)
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
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
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
Records
Men's singles
Source: The Tennisbase
[5]
See also
References
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
Present
2009–present:
Doha
Buenos Aires
Marseille
Delray Beach
New Haven / Winston-Salem
2009, 2011–present:
Kitzbühel
2009–2010, 2012–present:
Lyon / Montpellier
2009–2014, 2017–2019, 2021–present:
Eastbourne
2009–2014, 2020–present:
Viña del Mar / Santiago
2009–2019, 2021–present:
Munich
2009–2019, 2024–present:
Brisbane
2009–2016, 2024–present:
Bucharest
Stuttgart
Newport
Båstad
Gstaad
Umag
Stockholm
Metz
2009–2019, 2022–present:
Houston
Casablanca / Marrakech
's-Hertogenbosch
2009–2020, 2023–present:
Auckland
2009–2020, 2022–present:
Chennai / Pune
2010–2019, 2021–present
Atlanta
2015–2019, 2021–present:
Geneva
Estoril (Cascais)
2015–2019, 2023–present:
Chengdu
2016–present:
Antwerp
2016–2019, 2021–present:
Los Cabos
2016–present:
Sofia
2017–2019, 2021–present:
Lyon
2019–present:
Córdoba
2019, 2023–present:
Zhuhai
2020, 2022–present:
Adelaide
2020–2021, 2023–present:
Astana/Almaty
2021–present:
Mallorca
2022–present:
Dallas
2022, 2024-present:
Gijón
2024-present:
Hong Kong
Past
29°45′11″N 95°25′26″W / 29.753°N 95.424°W / 29.753; -95.424