Australian Ace Philippoussis, Rising New American Stars Gambill And Roddick Among First Entries For U.S. Men's Claycourt Championships.

Return of professional men's tennis to Texas to take place at Westside Tennis Club from April 30-May 6.

HOUSTON (March 19, 2001) --- Three of the hottest names in men's professional tennis, Australian Mark Philippoussis, and Americans Andy Roddick, and Jan-Michael Gambill, will be in the 32-player field when the 2001 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships takes place at the Westside Tennis Club in Houston, Texas, April 30-May 6. The tournament is an ATP event and a USTA National Championship.

Jim McIngvale, owner of the Westside Tennis Club and Gallery Furniture, said today that Mark Philippoussis, owner of the world's fastest serve, will be among the stars Houston area tennis fans can watch at the $400,000 USTA event that run April 30-May 6.

Other rising ATP stars who have confirmed to date include Gambill, who recently won the Citrix Championships in Delray Beach, Florida and also knocked off world number one Guastavo Kuerten at the Tennis Masters Series in Indian Wells last week, and Roddick, the 2000 Australian and U.S. Open Junior title winner who is considered by many the next star in American professional tennis.

"Mark Philippoussis is a top-ranked superstar whose monster serve will be the talk of Houston," McIngvale said. "Mark currently holds second place to the world's fastest serve, at 142.3 miles per hour, and last year averaged 15.1 aces per match, also a second-place ATP record."

"And the ladies will enjoy this: last year People Magazine named Philippoussis as one of its 80 international 'Sexiest Men Alive,'" McIngvale added. Philippoussis is a 24-year-old Australian who has finished among the top 20 tennis professionals for four consecutive years, won eight career titles and earned $4.9 million in prize money on the ATP circuit.

McIngvale also announced that American Jan-Michael Gambill, 23, will play in the U.S. Championships. "Gambill is another up-and-comer," McIngvale said. "After narrowly beating Gambill in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, Pete Sampras praised Gambill as 'America's next rising star." On March 11, Gambill won his second ATP title --- and the doubles crown --- at the Citrix Tennis Championship at Delray Beach, Florida. He's now the 17th-ranked player in the world. Last week he defeated two-time French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten on the way the to a quarterfinal finish at the ATP Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells, Calif.

"The ladies will also find that Gambill is worth a look," McIngvale added. "According to last year's People Magazine, Gambill is one of '50 Most Beautiful People in the World."

Andy Roddick of Boca Raton, Fla., an 18-year-old American who is also turning heads has confirmed his play at the U.S. Championships at Westside. "We are pleased to have Nebraska-native Andy Roddick at our tournament in May," McIngvale said. "Roddick last year won both the Australian and U.S. Open Junior titles and became the first American in eight years to finish as the #1 Junior player in the world. In addition, He won the 2000 USTA Professional Circuit challenger Series events in Austin, Texas. and Burbank, Calif., and posted a runner-up finish in Knoxville, Tenn., This year, Roddick continued his upward surge with a win at the USTA challenger in Waikoloa, Hawaii. He made his debut as a U.S. Davis Cupper with a win over Switzerland's George Bastl.

"We are going to have some exciting play as these young players scramble to establish themselves further among the elite ranks of men's professional tennis," McIngvale added.

The Westside Tennis Club's hosting of the 2001 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships marks the return of professional tennis to Houston. The U.S. Clay Court Championships is the second oldest USTA National tournament, behind the U.S. Open. It was held the last four years in Florida. Former champions include Andre Agassi, Bobby Riggs, Jimmy Connors, and Ivan Lendl. The tournament is a key part of the players preparation for the upcoming French Open and for the first time in the Open Era the event will be played on red clay courts. Red clay, the surface that the French Open is played on, has been imported and the courts are currently under construction.

Westside Tennis Club is a world-class tennis and sports center at 1200 Wilcrest Drive, in Houston, Texas, offering the finest tennis, fitness, basketball, and family entertainment. It is the only tennis facility in the world that offers all four Grand Slam tennis surfaces.