‘This is something that he did for many’

Western Bureau:

JAMAICA LOST arguably its most accomplished tennis player yesterday with the passing of Richard Russell, who died at his home in Montego Bay following a protracted period of illness.

Russell, who was 79 years old and who had the enviable distinction of giving numerous national players their start in the game, especially after taking on coaching at the end of his playing days, is the only Jamaican player to have advanced past the first round of all four majors – the Australian Open, the French Open, Wimbledon, and the United States Open.

Former national female player Maureen Rankine, who, like Russell, became an accomplished personality in tennis with over 20 years of coaching experience, credits him with bringing her into the sport and serving as her coach, mentor, and facilitator.

“He gave me the opportunity to work in this tennis business as an 18-year-old. This was how I got into tennis,” recalled Rankine.

“He coached me and later assisted me in getting a tennis scholarship to go to the United States … this is something that he did for many youngsters in Montego Bay … I will forever be grateful to him.”

As a mark of respect for his many years of service to the development of sports in Jamaica, especially tennis, which made him a renowned face on the hotel tennis circuit in Jamaica, Russell was honoured by the Government of Jamaica on Heroes Day, 2022, with the Order of Distinction (OD).

Russell, who showed signs of greatness from an early age when, as a 16-year-old, he became the youngest All-Jamaica Open Champion, became a standout player on the US tennis circuit, which served as a springboard to becoming a noted face in Grand Slam tennis.

In fact, he forced the tennis world to take notice of his talent in 1966 when he surprised India’s Richie Chopra in the first round of the Australian Open, soundly beating him 6-0, 6-0, 6-0 to advance to the tournament’s second round.

Russell, a founding member of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), a position of prestige in the tennis world, also participated in the inaugural Nations Cup as a member of the Caribbean team, alongside playing in the Davis Cup for Jamaica, where he won more than 12 matches in the national colours.

Besides the many youngsters from Montego Bay he introduced to the game and for whom he opened doors of opportunity, Russell also guided the careers of his sons Raine and Ryan, who both became national players and noted faces on the college circuit in the United States.