A Field of Dreams for U.S. Fans
Five of the top six ranked American men (all within the Top 30), and seven of the top nine, will be competing. Ben Shelton leads the pack and is aiming for something of a Texas two-step, having won the ATP 500 Dallas hard-court tournament in February. A title would also give him two Houston trophies, having won at River Oaks in 2024.
Three other past American champions are in the field: defending champ Jenson Brooksby, Frances Tiafoe (2023) and Reilly Opelka (2022). Learner Tien, Tommy Paul and Alex Michelsen round out the red, white and blue competitors from the ATP Top 50.
Who could spoil a U.S. celebration? Cristian Garin, who won this tournament in 2019, is in the draw, along with 32nd-ranked Tomas Martin Etcheverry. And on Thursday, it was announced that Alexei Popyrin will join the fray. In all, 10 of the world’s Top 50 (as of March 27) will head to Houston.
