Melbourne, Australia, 8 April 2013 | tennis.com.au

Lleyton Hewitt will be the lone Aussie in action on the ATP and WTA tours this week when he heads to Houston for the US Men’s Clay Court Championship.

Hewitt, who rose one place in the rankings to No.82, opens his claycourt campaign against 94th-ranked Argentine Martin Alund in the first round, a player he has never before faced.

The 32-year-old has headed to the US after playing an integral part in Australia’s Davis Cup win over Uzbekistan in Namangan over the weekend, combining with Matt Ebden to clinch the ever-crucial doubles rubber in five sets.

And that confidence boost couldn’t have come at a better time, with the draw in Houston loaded with impressive talent.

Heading the draw is top seed Nicolas Almagro, who is joined by No.2 seed Tommy Haas and defending champion Juan Monaco, seeded third.

Big-serving Americans John Isner and Sam Querrey also form part of the seeded contingent, as does the always dangerous Fernando Verdasco.

Hewitt faces a projected quarterfinal battle with Monaco, and should he win his opening match, will potentially line up against No.8 seed Michael Russell of the United States.

Hewitt will have fond memories of returning to Houston, the only ATP event in America staged on clay and at which the South Australian hoisted the trophy in 2009.

It is an ATP World Tour 250 event on the calendar.