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HOUSTON (Dec. 12, 2023) – Two rising American stars on the worldwide tennis stage will make their most important draw Houston debuts on the 2024 Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship, organizers introduced at this time. World No. 17 Ben Shelton and No. 34 Christopher Eubanks, who’re each nominated for the 2023 ATP Tour Most Improved Participant Award, will be part of fellow American and defending champion Frances Tiafoe within the subject for the March 30-April 7 match at River Oaks Nation Membership.
“Ben and Chris gained over plenty of followers throughout their breakout seasons in 2023, and we’re thrilled that each might be enjoying at River Oaks in 2024,” mentioned Match Director Bronwyn Greer. “They’re two very thrilling gamers to look at in addition to nice folks off the courtroom. With them becoming a member of Frances within the subject, we want the match was going to be getting underway slightly before it would.”
Shelton, 21, has rapidly cemented himself as one of many up-and-coming People on tour since successful the 2022 NCAA title at Florida. Three months later he beat world No. 5 and former US Clay finalist Casper Ruud in Cincinnati. Then, on his first-ever journey overseas, he surprised the tennis world by reaching the 2023 Australian Open quarterfinals. He once more carried out effectively on the massive stage with an exciting run to this yr’s US Open semifinals with a win over Tiafoe. In October, he beat world No. 4 Jannik Sinner in Shanghai, and the next week gained his first ATP title in Tokyo. After beginning the yr ranked No. 96, Shelton reached a profession excessive of No. 15 in October.
Whereas Shelton is making his U.S. Males’s Clay debut, he gained’t be the primary in his household to play at River Oaks. His father and coach, Bryan Shelton, gained the 1992 River Oaks Worldwide which later merged with the U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship. Bryan, who coached the Georgia Tech girls and later Florida males to NCAA titles, has been nominated for ATP Tour Coach of the 12 months.
At age 27, Eubanks is just not an up-and-comer however a late bloomer. He loved a mid-career breakthrough this season by first reaching the High 100 in Miami in March, then successful his first ATP title in Mallorca in June earlier than a surprising run to the Wimbledon quarterfinals. He started the 2023 season ranked No. 123 and reached a career-high of No. 29 in July. This might be his first journey again to River Oaks since falling within the qualifying rounds in 2018 and 2019. Earlier than this yr he could have been extra acquainted to tennis followers for his work as a Tennis Channel commentator, duties he continues as his enjoying schedule permits. Eubanks was a two-time All-American and ACC Participant of the 12 months at Georgia Tech.
Tiafoe committing to defend his title was the primary player announcement for the 2024 U.S. Clay match. The 25-year-old American gained a career-best 40 matches this season and added a title in Stuttgart to his triumph at River Oaks. He climbed to a profession excessive No. 10 this season, and adopted up a run to the 2022 US Open semifinals by reaching the quarterfinals in New York this yr.
All tickets are on sale now, together with the Champ Move – Finals Weekend bundle, which ensures the identical seat for the quarterfinals, semifinals, and finals, together with West Grandstand and Every day Tickets. To buy or for extra info, go to mensclaycourt.com/tickets.
Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship at River Oaks Nation Membership
River Oaks Nation Membership is internet hosting knowledgeable tennis match for the 88th time when the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship might be held March 30-April 7, 2024. River Oaks first hosted its personal match, The River Oaks Worldwide, in 1931, and its roster of former champions consists of Jack Kramer, Tony Trabert, Rod Laver, Roy Emerson, Ken Rosewall, Ivan Lendl, Guillermo Vilas and James Blake. Houston is the twenty first metropolis to host the U.S. Males’s Clay Court docket Championship. The match got here to Houston in 2001, and has been hosted at River Oaks since 2008. Began in 1910 by the USTA, the 2024 match would be the 112th competitors for the Clay Court docket Championship. American Frances Tiafoe was the 2023 singles champion whereas Australia’s Max Purcell and Jordan Thompson gained the doubles title. The match beneficiary is the Nationwide Junior Tennis & Studying applications of the Houston Tennis Affiliation. Extra details about the match will be discovered at www.mensclaycourt.com.
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