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TEXAS CHILDREN'S TICKET TURNBACK NETS $10,120 FOR HOSPITAL 


HOUSTON – Earlier this month, representatives of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship at River Oaks Country Club delivered a $10,120 check to the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children’s Hospital. The money was raised through the tournament’s annual Texas Children’s “Ticket Turnback” program.

“When the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute opens this fall, it will bring scientists from a variety of disciplines together under one roof to gain a better understanding of how the human brain develops and functions and apply that knowledge to truly accelerate the search for new treatments for neurological disorders,” said John Scales, senior vice president at Texas Children’s Hospital. “We are grateful that the River Oaks US Men’s Clay Court Championship continues to support our efforts and has partnered with us to change the lives of people worldwide who suffer from diseases like autism, epilepsy and cerebral palsy. And we look forward to growing that partnership in the future.”

The Texas Children’s “Ticket Turnback” program allows fans to donate tickets to sessions they cannot attend back to the tournament. The River Oaks box office then resells the tickets at face value, and the full resale amount is donated to Texas Children’s.

“It was a great pleasure to visit the hospital and personally present this check on behalf of our fans who helped make this donation possible,” said Tournament Chairman David Modesett. “We are very excited to be partners with Texas Children’s and we look forward to expanding our relationship in the coming years.”

Tournament Director Van Barry was pleased with the success of the program in 2010.

“Our historic stadium at River Oaks fills up quickly,” he said. “This ‘Ticket Turnback’ program allows us to benefit a wonderful program at Texas Children’s while also making our tennis tournament accessible to more people, especially on the finals weekend which consistently sells out in advance.”

During each of the past two tournaments, players from the ATP World Tour have taken time to visit with patients at Texas Children’s. In 2010, American John Isner and Israel’s Dudi Sela visited the hospital, while American Taylor Dent and Australian Ashley Fisher spent time there in 2009.

The 2011 US Men’s Clay Court Championship will be held April 4-10 at River Oaks Country Club.



JUAN IGNACIO CHELA CLAIMS 2010 SINGLES TITLE; 

BRYAN BROTHERS REPEAT AS DOUBLES CHAMPIONS


Juan Ignacio Chela won the 2010 US Men’s Clay Court Championship with a 5-7 6-4 6-3 win over third seed Sam Querrey at River Oaks Country Club.  For Chela, it marks his fifth career title, all of which have come on clay. Querrey was appearing a clay court final for the first time in his career.

In the opening set, Querrey struck the first lead with a break in the seventh game, but immediately gave it back in the eighth. The American went up another break in the 11th game then served out the opening set to love in the 12th game. The second set remained on serve until Chela broke Querrey in the 10th game to level the match at one-set apiece. Neither play could establish control early in the deciding third set. Querrey managed a break of Chela in the opening game, but the Argentine got it right back in the second game. Querrey fought off a break point in the fourth game to keep the match on level terms. But after a long game to hold and make it 3-all, Querrey mustered just three more points, one of which came on a Chela double fault, as the Argentine closed out the match.

Querrey is the third straight American to finish as runner-up at this event, joining James Blake in 2008 and Wayne Odesnik in 2009. Chela is the first Argentine winner since Horacio de la Pena claimed the title in 1993. 

In doubles Bob and Mike Bryan won their third US Men’s Clay Court Championship with a 6-3 7-5 win over Stephen Huss and Wesley Moodie in a rematch of the 2005 Wimbledon final. The twins are only the second team to have won three USMCCC titles, joining the duo of Clark Graebner and Marty Riessen.

The Bryans also now have 59 titles together, just two shy of the all-time record held by 2010 International Tennis Hall of Fame inductees Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde. Having not played here in 2008, the titles by the Bryans in 2007, 2009 and 2010 gives them a 12-match winning streak at the event.