All three members of the United States Davis Cup team who won live rubbers during this weekend’s first round sweep over Switzerland have committed to play the 2012 US Men’s Clay Court Championship in Houston. The tournament will feature Mardy Fish, John Isner and Mike Bryan April 9-15 at River Oaks Country, one week after the US visits France in the Davis Cup quarterfinals.
On clay in Fribourg, Switzerland, Fish led off the US Davis Cup triumph with a 9-7 in the fifth-set win over Stanislas Wawrinka on Friday, and Isner followed with a four-set win over World No. 3 Roger Federer. In Saturday’s doubles rubber, the US secured the win as Fish and Bryan teamed up to defeat Federer and Wawrinka.
“It was an inspired performance this weekend by the Americans,” said US Men’s Clay Court Championship tournament director Van Barry. “Road ties are always challenging, and this team showed great resolve in defeating the Swiss. It certainly gives us a very high expectation of the type of tennis we expect to see when these players come to Houston to compete for our national championship on clay.”
Fish, who is ranked No. 8, has been the top ranked American for nearly every week since taking over that position last year at River Oaks. He won the title at the 2006 US Men’s Clay Court Championship.
Isner is a two-time US Men’s Clay Court Championship quarterfinalist. This week Isner picked up three spots in the ATP World Tour rankings and now at a career high No. 14. Last year in Houston, Isner reached the US Men’s Clay Court doubles final with countryman Sam Querrey, a former finalist at River Oaks who has also committed to play in 2012.
Bryan was without his usual partner, as twin brother Bob was at home with his newborn baby. The Bryans will reunite in time to return to Houston where they are four-time champions of the US Men’s Clay Court Championship.
