On February 5, 2026, the tennis world eagerly anticipates the return of two compelling players to the courts of River Oaks. Defending champion Jenson Brooksby and 2022 titleholder Reilly Opelka have confirmed their participation in the upcoming Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship, set to take place from March 28 to April 5. This ATP Tour event, the only one dedicated to clay courts in North America, promises an exciting lineup featuring previous champions and rising talents alike.
Tournament Director Bronwyn Greer expressed enthusiasm about the event’s strong competitive field. “With our four most recent champions ready to battle it out at River Oaks, there’s a lot to look forward to,” she remarked. The tournament will also feature Ben Shelton, the 2024 champion, Frances Tiafoe, the 2023 winner, and a host of American players including Tommy Paul, Learner Tien, and Alex Michelsen.
Brooksby’s journey over the past few years has been remarkable. He made a comeback last season after a layoff due to surgeries on both wrists and entered the tournament unranked. His improbable victory at the U.S. Clay Championship marked just the beginning, as he later made it to the final in Eastbourne and the semifinals in Tokyo during 2025. Now, at 25 years old, Brooksby is eager to return to River Oaks for his third appearance.
Reilly Opelka will be stepping back onto the River Oaks courts for the first time since his impressive title win against John Isner in 2022. Having fought through injuries that sidelined him for much of 2023 and 2024, Opelka made his comeback in 2025, reaching the final in Brisbane and the semifinals in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, among several quarterfinal appearances. His career accolades include four title wins from seven finals.
Shelton, fresh off his first appearance at River Oaks as the reigning champion, capped off 2025 by finishing in the Top 10 for the first time and reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open last month. Meanwhile, Tiafoe continues to showcase his prowess on clay, having reached the US Clay final in each of the last three years and boasting three titles from ten career finals, with his most recent impressive performance being a quarterfinal run at Roland Garros last season.
Learner Tien enters the tournament following a strong performance at the Australian Open, where he reached the quarterfinals. His success last season included impressive achievements at the Next Gen ATP Finals and Metz, along with a runner-up finish in Beijing. Alex Michelsen also showed promising form in 2025 with three semifinals and four quarterfinal finishes, including a title at the Challenger event in Estoril.
Tommy Paul had a solid start to the 2025 season, climbing into the Top 10 following notable quarterfinal runs at both the Australian Open and Roland Garros, although injuries later curtailed his season.
The anticipation builds as the stage is set for this year’s tournament. The first entry list for the 2026 Fayez Sarofim & Co. U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship is scheduled for release in early March. The event will kick off the opening weekend with qualifying matches on Stadium Court, culminating with the singles and doubles finals on April 5. Clay court season is officially on the horizon, and fans are eager for action under the Texas sun.
