Frances Tiafoe, one of the most significant threats in Houston, joins Tommy Paul as a fellow American looking to win the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston. Tiafoe will take on Australian Adam Walton in the round of 16. Paul is already through to the third round.
While Paul has put together a solid season to date with 13 match wins to just five losses, those wins haven't amounted to a title just yet. Paul is hoping to change that in Houston. The only thing is, Houston hasn't been kind to him in recent years. Paul has a 2-4 losing record at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.
With the field mainly void of heavy hitters and other top-ranked ATP players, this year could be Paul's chance to exit his Houston rut. After all, he comes into this tournament as the top-ranked player, but he isn't alone, all things American considered.
Will an American win the US Men's Clay Court Championship in Houston?
Tiafoe draws right behind Paul as the second-ranked player in Houston and happens to share Paul's flag. Tiafoe is one of the most exciting players on tour, not to mention one of the best American players on tour. He and Paul rank in the top 20, at 13 and Tiafoe at 17.
Ben Shelton also draws into that category, as does Taylor Fritz, who sits within the top ten. Neither of them is playing in Houston, though. As for Tiafoe, his season hasn't had much to cheer about compared to Paul's 13 wins. Tiafoe is 6-6 on the year and recently experienced a round of 32 exit in Miami, similar to Paul.
Houston has plenty of representation from the American side, with eight other players besides Paul and Tiafoe. Still, only the latter two would be considered significant threats to go all the way. What brings extra excitement is their opposite positioning in the draw. Paul and Tiafoe have no chance of facing each other unless each man makes it to the finals.
An all-American clash between the two would be the perfect conclusion to an American-based tournament. None of this comes to pass, though, without both players first getting through three rounds of what will hopefully be competitive tennis.
Both men need something from this tournament. For Paul, it's overcoming past disappointments in Houston and leaving with his first title of the year. For Tiafoe, it's changing the trajectory of his season altogether. The season is still in its early stages, yes, but Tiafoe hasn't played to his potential. For both men, a title in Houston would ignite some much-needed confidence.