Americans Tiafoe, Paul, Isner Lead ATP Houston

Americans hold the Top 5 seeds at the clay event in Houston this week.

Top seed Frances Tiafoe leads the way followed by Australian Open semifinalist Tommy Paul and former champion John Isner.

Top seeds are: 1 Frances Tiafoe, 2 Tommy Paul, 3 Brandon Nakashima, 4 John Isner, 5 JJ Wolf, 6 Jason Kubler, 7 Marcos Giron, 8 Tomas Martin Etcheverry, .

No. 1 Tiafoe is projected to meet 6 Kubler in the quarters, No. 4 Isner – 5 Wolf, No. 8 Etcheverry – 3 Nakashima, and 7 seed Giron – 2 Paul in the bottom quarter.

The semifinals could see Frances Tiafoe meet John Isner and Tommy Paul face Brandon Nakashima. Isner beat Tiafoe last year in the Houston quarterfinals.

Tiafoe opens with a then gets the winner of Steve Johnson-Facundo Bagnis.

The second seeded Paul also gets a bye then will take on the winner of Yannick Hanfmann-Yosuke Watanuki.

Among the notable first round matches: 2-time winner Steve Johnson faces Facundo Bagnis, veteran former winner Fernando Verdasco meets Jason Kubler, Hugo Dellien against 2019 winner Cristian Garin and Tomas Machac against former champion Jack Sock.

Former champions: Johnson(2), Verdasco, Isner, Garin, Sock.

Last year, in the tallest ever tour final, (3) Reilly Opelka defeated (4) John Isner 6-3, 7-6(7).

LAST 10 HOUSTON CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2022 Reilly Opelka d John Isner 6-3, 7-6(7)
2019 Cristian Garin d Casper Ruud 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3
2018 Steve Johnson d Tennys Sandgren 7-6(2), 2-6, 6-4
2017 Steve Johnson d Thomaz Bellucci 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(5)
2016 Juan Monaco d Jack Sock 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2015 Jack Sock d Sam Querrey 7-6(9,) 7-6(2)
2014 Fernando Verdasco d Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 7-6(4)
2013 John Isner d Nicolas Almagro 6-3, 7-5
2012 Juan Monaco d John Isner 6-2, 3-6, 6-3
2011 Ryan Sweeting d Kei Nishikori 6-4, 7-6(3)