Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe are the top two seeds at the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championships in Houston.
They have been joined by Learner Tien, Tommy Paul, Brandon Nakashima, and Alex Michelsen, in Texas.
All of the above would love to extend America’s winning run at the event (2022 – Reilly Opelka, 2023 – Frances Tiafoe, 2024 – Ben Shelton, Jenson Brooksby – 2025).
But it’s a foreign player who could put an end to the ‘American dream’ in Houston.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry is a dark horse to win Houston
Of the top eight seeds in Houston, seven are American.
The one non-American is Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Top eight seeds in Houston
- 1. Ben Shelton (USA)
- 2. Frances Tiafoe (USA)
- 3. Learner Tien (USA)
- 4. Tommy Paul (USA)
- 5. Brandon Nakashima (USA)
- 6. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (ARG)
- 7. Alex Michelsen (USA)
- 8. Jenson Brooksby (USA)
The Argentine has made a strong start to his Houston campaign, battling back from a set down in his first two matches.
Etcheverry defeated his countryman Federico Agustin Gomez 1-6, 6-1, 6-4, before beating Australian qualifier, Alex Bolt, 6-7, 6-0, 6-3.
Moving into the quarter-finals, Etcheverry will play Paul.
If he were to advance, he could potentially meet Tiafoe in the semis and Shelton in the final.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see Etcheverry go all the way, given he has already won a clay-court title this year.
In February, Etcheverry won the Rio Open, his maiden ATP title.
Aged 26, Etcheverry is enjoying the best year of his career and is in the hunt for an ATP Finals spot.
There is plenty of tennis to be played between now and the end of the year, but Etcheverry is currently sitting 12th in the ‘Live ATP Race to Turin’.
Live ATP Race to Turin
| Rank | Name | Country | Points | Status |
| 1 | Carlos Alcaraz | Spain | 2,950 | Qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 2 | Jannik Sinner | Italy | 2,900 | Qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 3 | Daniil Medvedev | Russia | 1,700 | Qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 4 | Alexander Zverev | Germany | 1,690 | Qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 5 | Novak Djokovic | Serbia | 1,400 | Qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 6 | Ben Shelton | USA | 1,060 | Qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 7 | Alex de Minaur | Australia | 1,045 | Qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 8 | Arthur Fils | France | 980 | Qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 9 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | Canada | 965 | Not qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 10 | Jiri Lehecka | Czechia | 895 | Not qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 11 | Jakub Mensik | Czechia | 895 | Not qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 12 | Tomas Martin Etcheverry | Argentina | 885 | Not qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 13 | Frances Tiafoe | USA | 855 | Not qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 14 | Francisco Cerundolo | Argentina | 850 | Not qualifying for ATP Finals |
| 15 | Tommy Paul | USA | 815 | Not qualifying for ATP Finals |
If Etcheverry were to win the title in Houston, he’d move into the qualification places.
There’s some added motivation if he needed any!
Etcheverry is certainly one to keep an eye on in Houston, but Shelton and Tiafoe have work to do before they meet the Argentine…
Who will Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe play next in Houston?
Shelton has already booked his place in the quarter-finals, beating China’s Zhang Zhizhen in the second round.
He will meet another in-form Argentine, Thiago Agustin Tirante, in the quarterfinals.
2026 Houston quarter-finals
- [1] Ben Shelton vs Thiago Agustin Tirante
- [3] Learner Tien or Nishesh Basavareddy vs Roman Andres Burruchaga or [5] Brandon Nakashima
- [6] Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs [4] Tommy Paul
- [7] Alex Michelsen or Alexei Popyrin vs Rinky Hijikata or [2] Frances Tiafoe
The world number 83 dropped just five games across his first two matches, dominating Colton Smith (6-0, 6-3) and Mackenzie McDonald (6-2, 6-0).
If Tirante can keep that form up when he takes on Shelton, the top seed could find himself in real trouble.
Tiafoe, on the other hand, has yet to play his opening match.
When he does take to the court, he will meet Australia’s Rinky Hijikata, who defeated another American, Aleksandar Kovacevic in the first round.
Only time will tell who will lift the title in Houston, but you certainly won’t want to miss any of the action!
