By Alberto Amalfi | Saturday, April 11, 2015
Sam Querrey beat defending champion Fernando Verdasco, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, to set up an all-American Houston final against Jack Sock.
Photo credit: @mensclaycourt
The red clay of River Oaks will host a red, white and blue final for the first time in 12 years.
Sam Querrey withstood reigning champion Fernando Verdasco and a third-set rain delay with a 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 victory to reach his first ATP final since 2012 when he won Los Angeles.
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Querrey's victory sets up an all-American final against Jack Sock at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships.
It marks the first all-American Houston final since 2003 when Andre Agassi beat Andy Roddick.
Sock defeated third-seeded Kevin Anderson, 7-6 (3), 6-3, in today's first semifinal to power into his first career ATP final.
"Kevin is not easy to play on any surface," said Sock. "I really enjoy playing on clay. I thought it gave me a little more time today against such a big server and big hitter. I served pretty well today, was holding pretty comfortably throughout the match. I was able to scrap out a few more points in the second set to get the break and that was enough today."
For the first time in his career Sock has beaten two Top 20 players at the same tournament. The 22-year-old Sock topped 15th-ranked Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round before dispatching the 16th-ranked South African today.
Sock is bidding to become the first American man to win his maiden ATP title on clay since Roddick won Atlanta in 2001.
Querrey hit seven of his 16 aces in the final set when he won 16 of 18 points played on his first serve.
The 42nd-ranked Querrey is playing for his eighth career title. Five of Querrey's seven titles have come on American soil.