Now that the action is over in Miami, the tennis season has moved onto clay for the seven-week build-up to the French Open at Roland Garros. There will be a total of 12 clay-court events to enjoy during that period including new additions to the calendar in Geneva, Switzerland and Istanbul, Turkey.

The season kicked-off with America’s only clay event in Houston, the Fayez Sarofim & Co. Championship; and the Grand Prix Hassan II in Casablanca, Morocco, both of which are ATP 250 category events for men.

The 81st edition of the Houston event is taking place at the River Oaks Country Club this week, with defending champion Fernando Verdasco attempting to fend off 27 other players to retain his crown. Former champ John Isner will be among those looking to perform well in the later stages, but 2009 winner Lleyton Hewitt bowed out in Round One after entering as a wild card. Feliciano Lopez started as the top seed ahead of Roberto Bautista Agut, Kevin Anderson and Santiago Giraldo, with Verdasco at No. 6. The No. 1-ranked Bryan Brothers are also appearing in Houston as they attempt to win their sixth title in the doubles event.

Casablanca is currently playing host to Africa’s only ATP World Tour event, which started life back in 1984. Defending champion and top seed Guillermo Garcia-Lopez was dumped out early by 313th-ranked Moroccan Lamine Ouahab, as he attempted to continue the trend of Spanish players winning the event. Over the last six years, Spanish players have won the event five times, with Stan Wawrinka’s 2010 victory being the only non-Spanish triumph during that time. As things stand, Daniel Gimeno-Traver and Nicolas Almagro will be left flying the flag for Spain in the final rounds.

Following these events, the clay action moves on to Monte Carlo for the ATP 1000 Rolex Masters, and then Barcelona for the ATP 500 Open Banc Sabadell where some of the big guns will be back in action. Eight of the top 10 have been confirmed for Monte Carlo and five have already been lined-up for the event in Catalonia.

For the latest tennis odds visit Bet365