Frances Tiafoe will return to the red clay of the River Oaks Club in 2026. The 2023 US Clay champion, Tiafoe has finished as runner-up in each of the past two editions of the tournament.
He was defeated in the 2025 final by fellow American Jenson Brooksby.
The ATP Tour’s only clay court tournament in North America will be held in Houston March 28 – April 5. 2024 champion Ben Shelton is also signed up to play the event.
“Frances has become such a fan favorite here over his many years playing at River Oaks,” said Tournament Director Bronwyn Greer in a statement. “I think a lot of us feel like we have grown up with him since he came here as a teenager 10 years ago. Many of our fans have enjoyed following his career over the past decade, but the highlight is definitely when he’s playing US Clay, and we’re delighted he’s committed to making that an annual event.”
More on Tiafoe’s return to River Oaks from the tournament:
Only the third player in the Open Era to reach three consecutive US Clay finals (also Andy Roddick, 2021-05, and Andres Gomez, 1983-86), Tiafoe boasts a 13-6 record at the event. Over the last three seasons, he is 10-2 at River Oaks. The only place he has won more matches during that time is the US Open, where he’s gone 11-3 with a pair of quarterfinals.
Ten-time ATP finalist Tiafoe has won three titles on tour. The former world No.10 recently parted ways with coach David Witt after a season that saw him reach the last eight at Roland-Garros, but fail to make a deep run at Flushing Meadows, where he is a two-time US Open semifinalist.
Tiafoe is now coached by former world No.4 Todd Martin.
