U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships
The Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men 's Clay Court Championship in Houston are a material discharged annually Clay ATP tournament. The tournament looks back on a long history, as early as 1910 was the first competition - at that time in Omaha, Nebraska - instead. The tournament was founded to make clay courts and the sport of tennis in the Midwestern United States and more popular. Clay courts are in contrast to the then usual turf fields cheaper to buy and maintain. The tournament changed over the decades several times and the location will host since 2001 in Houston, current venue is the River Oaks Country Club. Since 2007 is not played on sand, which is comparable to the surface at Roland Garros; instead use the uncustomary in Europe Har -Tru sand, as it's called American or green sand, but has a brownish color in Houston.
Whereas formerly there was still more clay court tournaments in the U.S. - such as in Atlanta or in Coral Springs - so are the Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men 's Clay Court Championship today, the only U.S. Clay Court tournament on the ATP World Tour.
Tommy Haas was as yet only German player to win the tournament in 2004. The last winner from the United States was John Isner in 2013. With seven wins Bill Tilden 's record title holder, in the Open Era was the most successful Jimmy Connors with four titles.
The tournament will be held today in April and lasts a week. It is played at least $ 539,730 in prize money, of which the winner receives $ 85,900. Tournament Director Van Barry.