Tennis News: Ryan Harrison returns To Houston; Lleyton Hewitt forced out after surgery
World no. 130 Ryan Harrison of United States has been allotted a wild card entry into the 2011 U.S Men’s Clay Court Championships.
The event will be highlighting 28 players and will take place from 4th - 10th April.
The 18 year-old Harrison, received a wild card entry at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells too, where he displayed his career best performance reaching the fourth round before losing to Swiss, world number two Roger Federer 7-6(4),
6-3 in two straight sets. His last appearance at the event came at 2010 when he won against compatriot Taylor Dent before losing to defending champion Ivan Ljubicic in the second round.
This will be Harrison’s third appearance at the U.S Men’s Clay Court Championship. He has a 3-4 win/loss record so far in the season.
The American reached his career best at the U.S Men’s Clay Court Championships when he defeated Pablo Cuevas of Uruguay 6-4, 6-3 in the first round in 2008. However, he lost to compatriot James Blake 3-6, 2-6 in the second round.
In his last appearance at the event Harrison was defeated by his countryman Alex Kuznetsov 0-6, 5-7 in the first qualifying round in 2010.
Blake has won thirteen out of nineteen matches this year. He started the year at the 2011 Brisbane, Australia where he lost to the eventual champion Robin Soderling of Sweden 2-6, 4-6 in the round of 32.
His next major stop was the 2011 Australian Open where he was defeated by Adrian Mannarino of France 4-6, 3-6, 4-6 in the round of 128.
His considerable accomplishment of the season so far was his success at the Honolulu Challenger tour where he arrived at the semi finals defeating compatriot Michael Russell and later in the finals he moved past Alex Kuznetsov
to hold the Honolulu Challenger trophy.
Harrison received the wild card when Lleyton Hewitt’s underwent a foot surgery. Hewitt was compelled to give back his wildcard and had to leave the tournament.
Tournament director Van Barry commented on the situation saying "No doubt we're disappointed that Lleyton, one of our former champions, cannot compete this year and we wish him the very best for a speedy recovery but we're thrilled
to have Ryan returning to River Oaks. His win as a 15-year-old was a great moment during the 2008 event. Ryan's clearly a star among this newest generation of American players, and we look forward to him returning to Houston."
Rest of the country fellows who will be joining Harrison are James Blake, Sam Querrey, Michael Russell, Robert Kendrick, John Isner and the 2006 former champion Mardy Fish. 2010 champion, Juan Ignacio Chela and Mardy Fish will
be highlighting the event as two of the top seeds.
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