By Mark Howard | @Tennis_Now | Thursday, April 4, 2024

 

Noted photographer Mark Howard is roaming the grounds of River Oaks to shoot this week's Houston tournament. Mark shares Wednesday night shots here.

Photo credit: Mark Howard

Editor's Note: Noted photographer Mark Howard is roaming the grounds of the historic River Oaks Country Club in Houston this week shooting the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship..

We thank Mark Howard, who has shot this tournament for several years, for sharing his photography with Tennis Now.

More: Red Alert Houston Gallery by Mark Howard 

More: Pumped Houston Gallery by Mark Howard

You can follow Mark Howard's photography on his website MarkHowardPhotography.com or on Instagram.

Here are Mark's shots from Wednesday night in Houston, the only ATP red-clay tournament played on United States' soil.



















HOUSTON RESULTS—Wednesday, April 3, 2024

Singles Second Round

[1] Ben Shelton (USA) d. Zizou Bergs (Belgium) 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
Luciano Darderi (Italy) d. [4] Francisco Cerundolo 6-4, 2-6, 7-6(4)
[5] Marcos Giron (USA) d. J.J. Wolf (USA) 6-4, 6-3
Brandon Nakashima (USA) d. Rinky Hijikata (Australia) 6-1, 6-4

ORDER OF PLAY - Thursday, April 4, 2024

STADIUM COURT - START 12 NOON

N. Sriram Balaji (India) / Andre Begemann (Germany) vs Arjun Kadhe (India) / Jeevan Nedunchezhiyan (India)
Not Before 2:00 pm WATCH ON ESPN
[WC] Michael Mmoh (USA) vs [8] Max Purcell (Australia)
[4] Tomas Martin Etcheverry (Argentina) vs Danial Ehali Galan (Colombia)
Night Session - Not Before 6:00 pm WATCH ON ESPN
James Duckworth (Australia) vs [3] Frances Tiafoe (USA)
[6] Jordan Thompson (Australia) vs Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA)

COURT 3 start 2:30 pm

Fernando Romboli (Brazil) / Marcelo Zormann (Brazil) vs Andrew Harris (Australia) / Rinky Hijikata (Australia)
Not Before 4:30 pm
William Blumberg (USA) / John Peers (Australia) vs [WC] Andres Andrade (Ecuador) / Ben Shelton (USA)

SINGLES NOTES

- Three Americans advanced to the quarterfinals on Wednesday - No. 1 Ben Shelton, No. 5 Marcos Giron and 22-year-old Brandon Nakashima.
- Three more U.S. players will be competing in the Round of 16 on Thursday - No. 3 Frances Tiafoe, Aleksandar Kovacevic and Michael Mmoh.
- If all three Americans win on Thursday, it would mark the first time in the tournament's Houston era (since 2001) that six Americans would advance to the quarterfinals. Five Americans have advanced to U.S. Clay quarterfinals on our occasions - in 2022, 2018, 2017 and 2002.
- With Shelton set to face Nakashima in the quarterfinals, there will be at least one American in the US Clay semifinals for the 22nd consecutive edition of the tournament, a treat that began when the tournament moved to Houston in 2001.
- Among the eight matchups in the Round of 16, four matches feature battles between Americans and Australians, including three on Thursday's schedule.
- After receiving first round byes, 2023 champion Tiafoe, No. 3 seed, and 2023 runner-up Tomas Martin Etcheverry, the No. 4 seed, will make their 2024 singles debut on Thursday.