There are five players remaining in the Houston draw and four of them are twenty-four years and younger.  Three of them are twenty-two and younger. Sam Querrey, the sole American left in the draw, at thirty-one is the oldest player and expected to win the title. However, he will have to get by the young Chilean, Cristian Garin, first.  Querrey has the weapons to do so; thus, it will be up to Garin to prove the odd makers wrong. At seventy-three in ranking, there is only two spots difference in their ranking, but Querrey was once ranked as high as number eleven and has the years of experience in his favor.

Casper Ruud, at twenty, is the youngest player left in the draw and he has proven that he is ready to step up to the challenge of the ATP Tour. Ruud handled the big serve of the American, Reilly Opelka, in three sets; then completely dominated another big server, Marcel Granollers. The Norwegian would love to keep this form going to the final and possibly lift the trophy at the end of this impressive performance.

Daniel Elahi Galan would love to add his name to the mix; however, he is in a battle with the Australian, Jordan Thompson. Both players will finish up their match today to get the last semifinal spot in Houston after play was suspended last night. Galan at twenty-two years is the only player left in the draw ranked outside the top hundred. Galan is ranked two-hundred and forty-one and the odds are not in his favor of getting to the final four; however, this is clay and you can never bet against a South American. Yet, Thompson may have something to say about that though.

SOURCE OF IMAGES: Zimbio.com; main image of Sam Querrey is a serveandrally original.