Ryan RussellBy Tym Glaser, Associate Editor Sport
JAMAICA could be without the services of talented teenager Ryan Russell for next month's Davis Cup America Zone Group 3 tournament in Cuba.
The 17-year-old left-hander is trying to work his way up the professional ranks and may have a tournament at the same time as the Davis Cup competition, national coach Douglas Burke said earlier this week.
"Ryan is unsure if he will be able to play due to other commitments," Burke said of the player who won each of his singles matches in his Davis Cup debut at home last year. "We should know for sure within the next few days."
If Russell is unable to represent the island, the four-man squad would most likely comprise reigning national champion Jermaine 'Giant' Smith, Scott Willinsky, Peter Gordon and Elvis Henry.
US-based Henry won a play-off against promising young players Kevron Bennett, Dane Vernon and Damar Johnson last weekend to earn a provisional place on the team which can be changed up until the eve of the event.
"Elvis made the semis of a money tournament in Florida recently and looks good," Burke said.
"Gordon is also doing very well. He's the No. 1 junior college player in the US and his college, Tyler in Texas, is also ranked No. 1.
"Jermaine and Scott have been playing a lot of Futures tournaments in Mexico, Cuba and the United States."
Although his players are spread far and wide and probably won't come together until a few days before the Cup, Burke is not too concerned.
"They are all playing and keeping sharp - at college and in the Futures. The competition is the best thing for them," he said.
The eight-team tournament, to be played on hard courts in Havana from March 14-18, brackets Jamaica with the hosts, Bermuda and Bolivia in one group while the other section includes El Salvador, Trinidad and Tobago, Honduras and Puerto Rico.
Burke rates Bermuda and Bolivia as "okay" teams and Cuba as the one to beat in the opening round-robin phase from which the top two teams advance to the semi-finals.
