DAY 3: FAYEZ SAROFIM & CO. ATP 250 U.S. MEN'S CLAY COURT CHAMPIONSHIP
- Michael Thervil
- Apr 3
- 5 min read
Updated: Apr 3
Written by Michael Thervil
It's now day three of the Fayez Sarofim & Co. ATP 250 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship tournament here in Houston at the River Oaks Country Club. The list of matches is getting smaller as more and more players that have been competing since Sunday have been getting defeated by their peers. Although yesterday was jam-packed with some of the best match-ups since the start of the week-long tournament, it can be easily predicted that as the tournament winds down to both the semi-finals and final this tournament will only get better.
The morning was kicked off with a double featuring American duo Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram vs. the Canadian duo Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo. Despite all of the geopolitical tensions between the leaders of these two countries, it was still good to see that geopolitics had no place on the court between the two teams. Looking how both teams fared on the court, the Canadians (Gonzalo Escobar and Diego Hidalgo) had 29/51 (57%) service points won, with 17/52 (33%) return points won, and 46/103 (45%) when it came to total points won. The Americans (Austin Krajicek and Rajeev Ram) fared slightly better with 35/52 (67%) in terms of service points won, 22/52 (43%), and 57/103 (55%) when it came to total points won making the Americans the winner of the match.
The next match-up of the day was between Alejandro Tabilo vs. Jenson Brooksby. This was a great match on the court as both players left those in attendance on the edge of their seats. Great back and forth ball-movement between both teams, which ended with Jenson Brooksby being the winner of the match. Alejandro Tabilo scored 14/20 (70%) for net points won, 23 winners, and 52 unforced errors. Jenson Brooksby had 13/23 (70%) net points won, 32 winners, and 33 unforced errors. When it comes to service points won by Alejandro Tabilo, he registered 71/115 (62%) while Jenson Brooksby obtained 64/99 (65%). While Alejandro Tabilo scored 35/99 (35%) in return points won and 106/214 (50%) total points won. Jenson Brooksby had 44/115 (38%) for return points won and 108/214 (50%) when it came to total points won.
Going back to doubles, Robert Galloway and Jackson Withrow faced off against Rafael Matos and Marcelo Zormann. This was a tight match just as much as it was a very entertaining match as it was filled with a certain energy on the court that hasn't been felt during the other series of doubles that were played thus far during this tournament. The winner of this match were the Americans Rafael Matos and Marcelo Zorman. The point stats from Rafael Matos and Marcelo Zormann consisted of them obtaining 44/61 (72%) in service points won and 25/66 (38%) in return points won. Rafael Matos and Marcelo Zormann finished out with 69/127 (54%) for total points won. When it came to the winners Robert Galloway and Jackson Withrow, they scored 41/66 (62%) for service points won and 17/61 (28%) for return points won. In terms of total points won, Robert Galloway and Jackson Withrow scored 58/127 (46%).
The next game could be considered an “Aussie’s Game” as all players hailed from Australia. The match was a double and was a very competitive game between the two teams. The players of this match were Mathew Christopher Romios and Adam Walton vs. Rinky Hijikata and Jordan Thompson. Service points wise, Mathew Christopher Romios and Adam Walton scored 33/43 (77%) to Rinky Hijikita and Jordan Thompson’s 24/44 (55%). Rinky Hijikita and Jordan Thompson scored 10/43 (23%) when it came to return points won while Mathew Christopher Romios and Adam Walton scored 20/44 (45%). The winners of the match, Mathew Christopher Romios and Adam Walton scored 53/87 (61%) in total points won while Rinky Hijikita and Jordan Thompson were only able to score roughly half that at 34/87 (39%).
On the single match front, Colton Smith went head-to-head with and defeated Ethan Quinn in a blazing battle on the court. Colton Smith scored 4/4 (100%) net points won against Ethan Quinn who stood at 5/7 (71%). Colton Smith and Ethan Quinn were tied at 13 for winners but that would change when you look at the unforced errors variable where Colton Smith had 15 and Ethan Quinn 18. In the service points won, Colton Smith acquired 43/54 (80%) and Ethan Quinn obtained 31/48 (65%). The return points won for Colton Smith was 17/48 (35%) and in the same variable Ethan Quinn had 11/54 (20%). The total points won for Colton Smith are 60/102 (59%) while Ethan Quinn ended the match with 42/102 (41%).
For the last double of the evening, it would be Fernando Romboli and John-Patrick Smith vs. Jenson Brooksby and Learner Tien. Before we look at the point stats, we have to say that Jenson Brooksby previously played a phenomenal match today in which he executed a memorable comeback on his opponent on the court. So the case could be made that maybe he was severely fatigued from that match which just happened earlier today, despite the suitable rest clause of the match.
None-the-less, it would be Fernando Romboli and John-Patrick Smith that would take home the win from this match with 40/52 (77%) service points won and 17/46 (37%). In contrast, Jenson Brooksby and Learner Tien would obtain 29/46 (63%) service points won and 12/52 (23%) return points won. Jenson Brooksby and Learner Tien acquired 41/98 (42%) for total points won. In the same category, Fernando Romboli and John-Patrick Smith would score 57/98 (58%).
In the match between Tommy Paul and Cristian Garin, it would be Tommy Paul that would be the winner. Like all other matches prior to this match, this match was just as well played between the two world class contenders. Cristian Garin had 10/14 (71%) net points won, with 26 winners, and 26 unforced errors. Tommy Paul fell behind when it came to net points won with 16/28 (57%), but took the lead when it came to winners (34) and unforced errors (47). In the next three statistical categories Tommy Paul only won by a very slight margin, some spectators felt as if he won by the skin of his teeth. In service points won, Tommy Paul has 57/96 (59%) while Cristian Garin scored 66/113 (58%) , barely a difference there. Looking at return points won, Tommy Paul had 47/113 (42%) while Cristian Garin had 39/96 (41%), again, hardly a difference percent wise. For total points won both contenders fared equal, as Tommy Paul had 104/209 (50%) while Cristian Garin scored 105/209 (50%).
For the final match of the day, it would be Corentin Denolly vs. Aleksandar Kovacevic in which Corentin Denolly suffered a crushing defeat. Corentin Denolly acquired 5/8 (63%), 11 winners, 25 unforced errors. In contrast, Aleksandar Kovacevic scored 6/9 (67%) net points won, with 26 winners, and 28 unforced errors. Corentin Denolly had 38/70 (54%) in service points won, 15/54 (28%) return points won, and 53/124 (43%) total points won. The winner, Aleksandar Kovacevic, scored 39/54 (72%) service points won, with a return points won score of 32/70 (46%), and a total points won score of 71/124 (57%). This concludes day three’s coverage of the Fayez Sarofim & Co. ATP 250 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championship.
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