ATP Houston Preview: Former Champs Roddick, Agassi, Haas Head Field

Posted on April 18, 2005

Former No. 1s Andy Roddick and Andre Agassi head the field this week at the ATP claycourt stop in Houston, joined by fellow seeds Tommy Haas, Nicolas Massu, Taylor Dent, Sebastien Grosjean, Jurgen Melzer, and Luis Horna.

Also taking refuge from the claycourt-specialist heavy field this week in Barcelona are notables Mardy Fish, Robby Ginepri, 15-year-old boy-among-men Donald Young, Thomas Enqvist, and the hot-handed Mariano Puerta.

Opening-round matches of note are (1) Roddick vs. a qualifier (winner to face Fish or Ginepri), (8) Horna vs. Enqvist, (7) Melzer vs. Puerta, and (5) Dent vs. fellow American Kevin Kim.

In last year's final the unseeded Haas defeated (1) Roddick 6-3, 6-4.

Returning champions in this year's Houston field are Haas (2004), Agassi (2003,'88), Roddick (2002-01), and Enqvist (1995).

On court Monday in Houston on the dirt are Puerta vs. (7) Jurgen "Tuna" Melzer, Calatrava vs. (WC) "The" Donald Young, and (6) Sebastien Grosjean vs. Phau.