Avia Ustanny, Outlook Writer
RICHARD AND Ryan Russell, father and son, have entered into a pact which, should it bear fruit, will see the career of the younger Russell reaching the heights of world class tennis which his talents has promised.
Like Richard Williams and daughters Venus and Serena, Richard Russell has been managing Ryan's career. He has also initiated a new syndication plan which should ensure that his son succeeds at the same level. The Russells Richard and Ryan are second and third generation sportsmen from Montego Bay.
Father Richard Russell was national and Caribbean tennis champion. Son Ryan has been Jamaica's leading Davis Cup player in the last five years. He has won 14 of 16 Davis cup singles matches with an 88 per cent winning average.
Last year Ryan Russell, in partnership with Dustin Brown, moved Jamaica from group three to group two in the Davis Cup competition.
Syndication for Success
The 'Syndication for Success' programme designed for Ryan, will finance the travel, training and tournament participation he needs to move upwards to the top level of the sport, which is where he has always wanted to be.
Ryan's stated ambition is to qualify for Wimbledon and the U.S. Open. He adds that he also wants to become the number one-ranked doubles team in the world with partner Dustin Brown. These might sound like a 'pie in the sky' idea but a look at his performance to date will make things clearer.
In 1993, Ryan was winner of the Under-10 category for the Best Dressed Chicken all-island Junior Championships. In 1996, in his third year of competitive tennis, he became the number one International Tennis Federation (ITF) 12-and Under player and the ninth rated Under-14 player in the Caribbean. In that year, he won the boy's Under-19 division in the Island Life JLTA national scholastic tennis champions tournament.
He was listed as one of the teenage players ranked in the top 500 worldwide and is said to have climbed over 1000 spots in the world ranking since April 2002.
"I always wanted to play" Ryan Russell, a busy 21-year old, told Outlook.
Overseas training
At 15, he was sent by his father to the world famous Bolletierri, Tennis academy in Brandenton Florida where he came under the tutelage of Nick Bolletierri, who has coached grand slam champions Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Mary Pierce.
At 15, too, Ryan Russell had an International Tennis Federation (ITF) 18-and-under world junior ranking of 181 in singles and 130 in doubles, making him the third highest ranked 15-year-old in the world in the Under-18 category.
In March of 1999, he shot to number one in doubles ranking, in the tennis federation computer world ranking with the highest doubles ranking of any 16 and under player in the world. He was also then rated as number four in singles for boys born in 1983.
Deal
We caught up with the father and son pair on one of Ryan's recent running visits into the island. Documents outlining the hoped for syndicate deal were proffered, indicating a great deal of forethought and what might be a win-win deal for those who want to join the bid to send the left-handed tennis player through to Grand Slam events.
Douglas Burke, national tennis director, has commented in a written document; "Ryan has the potential and the commitment to become a world class professional tennis player," noting also that Russell has performed well in professional futures tournaments around the world.
Richard Russell said that Ryan's new syndication plan was created to meet the significant costs of training and travel which will be included in his journey to Grand Slam events.
Those who join in the effort to raise the US$100,000 that he needs annually for the next three years, should also reap rich rewards for their investment, the manager/parent says. Investors will earn a significant portion of his prize money earned during these three years.
"The syndication fund will be used primarily to purchase air travel and to provide wild card entries into a series of challenge events over a one to three-year period. This will give the young player the opportunity to compete at all levels (ATP, Challenger series and futures/satellite series) and to earn ATP points to achieve grand slam playing status.
His 'syndication for success' proposal states; 'international exposure is an essential part of the development of every athlete. Ryan, with cool self assurance told Outlook that his new deal is what is needed to make his dreams come true.
When he is not indulging in his favourite pastime tennis, he is listening to music, checking out fast cars or reading motivational and money management books. He says his personal motto is "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
