Popyrin and American Trio Join Houston Field

By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, March 27, 2026
Photo credit: Psycho Bunny

Alexei Popyrin will make his Houton debut next month.

World No. 47 Popyrin joins the U.S. Men’s Clay Court Championship field, set to compete March 28-April 5. Popyrin, a three-time ATP titlist who won the Masters 1000 in Montreal two years ago, will be making his US Clay debut.

Main draw wild cards include Colton Smith, a US Clay quarterfinalist in 2025 during his senior year at the University of Arizona, and Mackenzie McDonald, who has scored wins over Rafael Nadal, Andrey Rublev, and Kei Nishikori following a standout UCLA career where he won NCAA singles and doubles titles. 

American 22-year-old Martin Damm will receive the final main draw wild card. He reached his first ATP semifinal in Montpellier last month. His father, Martin, Sr., won 40 ATP doubles titles and twice played US Clay at River Oaks. 

JJ Wolf, a US Clay quarterfinalist in 2023, will receive a qualifying wild card. After a year-long injury hiatus, Wolf won his very first tournament back at an ITF M15 in Naples in February. 

Zachary Svajda and Texas A&M’s Patrick Kypson have moved into the main draw. The field is led by world No. 8 (and 2024 champion) Ben Shelton, 2023 champion Frances Tiafoe, Learner Tien, and Tommy Paul as the top four seeds.  

The 2026 player list includes five former champions: Jenson Brooksby (2025), Shelton (2024), Tiafoe (2023), ReillyOpelka (2022), and Christian Garin (2019). 

On Saturday, qualifying will mark the start of the 2026 US Clay with matches played inside of the stadium for the first time (admission is free with open stadium seating). Main draw play begins on Monday.