Chela Joins Blake and Other Americans At Clay Court Championships

Written by: Staff on 25th February 2011

Chela Joins Blake and Other Americans At Clay Court Championships

James Blake (USA) |

Defending champion Juan Ignacio Chela is among the ATP World Tour players who are on the initial entry list for the 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship, joining the previously announced American contingent of James Blake, Mardy Fish, John Isner and Sam Querrey, who all committed early to the tournament.

Twelve countries are represented among the first 20 players to be announced for the 28-player field at the 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship which will be played April 4-10 at River Oaks Country Club.

There are six Americans entered into the event. In addition to the four that were previously announced, Robert Kendrick and Houston resident Michael Russell will also be joining the field following their rankings rises after reaching the Memphis quarterfinals last week.

Chela, from Argentina, will be looking to be the first player to repeat as champion since Andy Roddick in 2001 and 2002, the event’s first two years in Houston. In 2010, Chela defeated Querrey in the final. In addition to 2010 finalists Chela and Querrey, the field includes 2006 champion Fish and 2008 runner-up Blake.

The initial entry list includes six players who are in the Top 50 of the February 21 ATP World Tour Rankings – Fish (16), Querrey (22), Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (23), Chela (31), Isner (32) and Kevin Anderson (40). The last player accepted to the main draw at this initial entry deadline is Russell, who is No. 90 this week.

Below is the initial entry list of 20 players for the 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship. Two more wild cards will be announced. In addition, four players will advance through qualifying. Two more players will be added based either on results in Miami the week prior to the River Oaks tournament or off the alternate list.

Kevin Anderson (RSA)

Igor Andreev (RUS)

Benjamin Becker (GER)

Carlos Berlocq (ARG)

James Blake* (USA)

Juan Iganacio Chela (ARG)

Pablo Cuevas (URU)

Brian Dabul (ARG)

Somdev Devvarman (IND)

Grigor Dmitrov (BUL)

Mardy Fish (USA)

Teymuraz Gabashvili (RUS)

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (ESP)

John Isner (USA)

Denis Istomin (UZB)

Robert Kendrick (USA)

Ricardo Mello (BRA)

Kei Nishikori (JPN)

Sam Querrey (USA)

Michael Russell (USA)

*Blake is the first of three wild card recipients

“We have a very good field lined up for the US Men’s Clay Court Championship this year,” said tournament director Van Barry. “We look forward to welcoming this international group of players to River Oaks and anticipate a very competitive tournament in April.”

Three-time doubles champions Bob and Mike Bryan, who claimed their 10th career major title by winning the Australian Open last month, will headline the doubles field for the US Men’s Clay Court Championship. The full field for that event will be announced closer to the tournament.

Topics: James Blake, John Isner, Juan Ignacio Chela, Mardy Fish, Sam Querrey