By Chris Oddo | Friday April 14, 2017
Jack Sock lead a parade of five Americans into the quarterfinals at the U.S. Men's Clay-Court Championships in Houston.
Photo Source: AFP
Top-seeded Jack Sock led a group of five American players into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Men’s Clay-Court Championships in Houston with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over Tommy Haas on Thursday.
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In a battle of former champions Sock improved to 2-1 against Haas by breaking twice on four opportunities.
After dropping the middle set, Sock faced all four break points he faced in the decider to improve to 19-5 on the season and book a matchup with No.6-seeded Feliciano Lopez.
“I knew it was going to be fun to go out there. Who knows how many he has left in him,” Sock told ATPWorldTour.com of facing the 39-year-old former World No.2 Haas. “He gave his all. I had to come through with some good tennis in the end to win.”
It was a special day for several other Americans on Thursday at the River Oaks Country Club. The Stars and Stripes placed five players in the quarterfinals which is the most Americans to reach the last eight at Houston since 2002 when Andre Agassi, Andy Roddick, Pete Sampras, James Blake and Todd Martin.
No.2-seeded John Isner defeated Leonardo Mayer, 6-7(5), 7-6(3), 6-3, No.3-seeded Sam Querrey defeated Horacio Zeballos, 6-4, 6-4, No.4-seeded Steve Johnson edged Dustin Brown, 7-6(12), 6-4 and Wild Card Ernesto Escobedo reached his first career quarterfinal by defeating Thiago Monteiro, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Here are Friday’s quarterfinal matchups in Houston: