Michael Russell (tennis)
Full name | Michael Craig Russell |
---|---|
Country (sports) | United States |
Residence | Houston, Texas |
Born | Detroit, Michigan | May 1, 1978
Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
Turned pro | 1998 |
Retired | 2015 |
Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
College | Miami (FL) |
Prize money | $2,352,870 |
Singles | |
Career record | 77–150 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 60 (August 13, 2007) |
Grand Slam singles results | |
Australian Open | 2R (2008, 2011) |
French Open | 4R (2001) |
Wimbledon | 2R (2010, 2012) |
US Open | 1R (1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) |
Doubles | |
Career record | 23–51 |
Career titles | 0 |
Highest ranking | No. 164 (June 11, 2012) |
Grand Slam doubles results | |
Australian Open | 1R (2010) |
French Open | 1R (2007, 2010, 2011, 2012) |
Wimbledon | 2R (2011) |
US Open | 3R (2015) |
Michael Craig Russell (born May 1, 1978) is an American former professional tennis player, and tennis coach. He reached a career-high singles ranking of World No. 60 in August 2007. His 23 United States Tennis Association (USTA) Pro Circuit singles titles were the all-time record, as of November 2013. That month he became the American No. 3.
In 1994 Russell was ranked No. 1 in both singles and doubles in the USTA Boys' 16 rankings, and in 1996 he was ranked No. 1 in singles in the U.S. Boys' 18-Under. Playing for the
Russell struggled with knee injuries for much of his professional career.
Russell started Michael Russell Tennis, a private tennis coaching business in 2015. He has coached Frances Tiafoe, Ryan Harrison, Sam Querrey, Taylor Fritz and Mackenzie McDonald through USTA Player Development.
Personal life
Russell, who is Jewish, was born in Detroit, Michigan.[1][3][4] He started playing tennis at age five with his father, George, who was formerly a member of the University of Michigan's Big Ten Conference 1965 championship team.[5] His mother, Carole, also attended the University of Michigan, and is an English teacher.[5] His older brother David played tennis at Princeton University, and attended Harvard Business School.[5]
Russell grew up in
In 1995, Russell was the valedictorian at Saddlebrook High School in Florida.[5][6][9] He then attended the University of Miami in 1996–97.[6]
Russell married his wife Lilly, a
He was one of the few
Tennis career
Junior career
In 1991, Russell lost in the finals of the 1991
Russell finished 1994 ranked # 1 in both singles and doubles in the USTA Boys' 16 rankings.[2] He won the 1994 USTA National Boys' 16 Championships, beating top-seeded Kevin Kim in the finals, and won the doubles title with Geoff Abrams.[2][12] He lost in the finals of the 1994 USTA National Boys' 16 Clay Court Championships to Kevin Kim, and beat Bob Bryan in the semi-finals and Kim in the finals of the 1994 Easter Bowl Boys' 16s Championships.[12]
In 1995, he won the singles title at the USTA National Boys' 18 Clay Court Championships, beating Kevin Kim in the finals, while losing in the doubles finals with Geoff Abrams.[2] Russell reached the second round in singles and the quarterfinals in doubles with Kim at the 1995 Australian Open Junior Championships.[2]
In 1996, he was ranked #1 in U.S. Boys' 18-Under.
College career
Russell played number one singles for the
1997–2002
A week before he was to go pro in 1997, while serving to
In 1998, he won the singles title at the USTA Satellite in Mobile, Alabama.[2] In 1999, Russell won USTA Futures events in Vero Beach, Florida, and Weston, Florida.[2]
In 2000, Russell won the USTA Challenger in Amarillo, Texas, defeating Stefano Pescosolido in the finals, and won the doubles title with Tommy Robredo at the Edinburgh, Scotland, Challenger.[2] He also won his first ATP match, defeating Hugo Armando in the first round of the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Orlando, Florida.[2] He was named a practice partner for the United States Davis Cup team for the U.S. vs. Spain Davis Cup semifinal in Santander, Spain.[2]
In 2001, he finished ranked in the top 100 in the world.[2] Russell won the singles and doubles, with Robert Kendrick, championships at the USTA Futures event in Mobile, Alabama.[2] He became the first player to play his way into four consecutive Grand Slam events in succession through qualifiers (2000 Wimbledon, US Open; 2001 Australian Open, Roland Garros).[2][6]
In his French Open debut, as a qualifier he advanced to the fourth round. There, he faced world # 1
2003–present
In 2003, Russell was hampered by a right knee injury for much of the year. He reminds me of Don Quixote … [tilting] at those windmills. For every success, I can tell you, there's been hours on the couch with ice bags on his knees. After the third knee operation, most people would have thrown up their hands and said, 'I'm star-crossed, I can't do it.' But Michael has persevered. That's why he's our hero.[6]
In 2004, he won singles titles at the USTA Futures event in Buffalo, New York, defeating
In 2007 he won a Challenger tournament in Nouméa, New Caledonia.
On May 25, 2008, he was named USTA Circuit Player of the Week after winning three consecutive singles titles.[2] In April 2010, he was at the age of 31 the third-oldest player in the men's top 75.[21]
Russell made his first ATP semi-final at the 2012 U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston, Texas. He came through qualifying and beat top seed, world # 9 and compatriot Mardy Fish in straight sets on his way to a three-set loss to Juan Mónaco. The win against Fish was his first over a top-10 player.[22] He ended the 2012 season as the third-oldest man in the ATP Top 100.[23]
Russell, as a
The victory pushed him into the top 80 in the world rankings, and he became the third-highest-ranked American in the world.[26][27] His 23 USTA Pro Circuit singles titles as of November 2013 was the all-time record.[21][25][28][29] At the 2014 Rogers Cup in Toronto, he pushed David Ferrer to come up with his best tennis.
In 2015 at 36 years of age, Russell earned a spot representing premier American men's professional tennis at the Australian Open. He was later defeated in the first round of the Tournament in Melbourne. Annually, the Australian Open serves as the initial Grand Slam event in the (ITF) professional series.
Russell retired from professional tennis at the 2015 US Open, at 37 years of age.[30] On the Challenger Tour, he finished his career at No. 8 in match wins (276) and tied for fifth in titles (15).[30]
Playing style
Russell has "startling acceleration, precise footwork and, most important, a voracious work ethic."[6] He is a defensive counter-puncher, known for his foot speed, consistency, forehand, and fitness.[8] John McEnroe described him as a particularly dogged competitor, saying that "no one's going to try harder on a tennis court than Michael Russell".[31]
People questioned his potential when he was a junior because they thought he was too little for pro tennis.[8] An ESPN article in 2007, noting that he was 5-foot-8 and weighed 160 pounds, called him: "one of the smallest players in the professional game."[6]
Coaching
In 2015, Russell started Michael Russell Tennis, a private tennis coaching business in Houston, Texas.
Russell has coached Frances Tiafoe, Ryan Harrison, Sam Querrey, Taylor Fritz, Mackenzie McDonald and Tennys Sandgren on the ATP WorldTour through USTA Player Development.
He is the current private coach of Taylor Fritz.
ATP career finals
Doubles: 1 (0–1)
|
|
Outcome | W–L | Date | Tournament | Surface | Partner | Opponents | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Runner-up | 0–1 | Jul 2012 | BB&T Atlanta Open , Atlanta, United States
|
Hard | Xavier Malisse | Matthew Ebden Ryan Harrison |
3–6, 6–3, [6–10] |
ATP Challenger finals
Singles: 21 (15 titles, 6 runners-up)
|
|
Outcome | No. | Date | Tournament | Surface | Opponent | Score |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | 1. | January 31, 2000 | Amarillo , Texas, United States
|
Hard (i) | Stefano Pescosolido | 7–5, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 1. | October 2, 2000 | Austin, Texas, United States | Hard | Andy Roddick | 4–6, 4–6 |
Runner-up | 2. | April 2, 2001 | Calabasas, California, United States | Hard | André Sá | 2–6, 4–6 |
Winner | 2. | July 12, 2004 | Granby, Quebec, Canada | Hard | Davide Sanguinetti | 6–3, 6–2 |
Winner | 3. | November 28, 2005 | Orlando, Florida, United States | Hard | Todd Widom | 6–4, 6–2 |
Winner | 4. | August 14, 2006 | Bronx , New York, United States
|
Hard | Paul Capdeville | 6–0, 6–2 |
Runner-up | 3. | September 25, 2006 | Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA | Hard | Bobby Reynolds | 6–7(3–7), 3–6 |
Winner | 5. | November 27, 2006 | Maui, Hawaii, United States | Hard | Sam Warburg | 6–1, 6–0 |
Winner | 6. | January 1, 2007 | Nouméa, New Caledonia, France | Hard | David Guez | 6–0, 6–1 |
Winner | 7. | January 22, 2007 | Waikoloa, Hawaii, United States | Hard | Jamie Baker | 6–1, 7–5 |
Winner | 8. | February 12, 2007 | Joplin, Missouri, United States | Hard (i) | Frédéric Niemeyer | 6–4, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 4. | January 12, 2009 | São Paulo, Brazil | Hard | Santiago Giraldo | 3–6, 2–6 |
Winner | 9. | May 4, 2009 | Savannah, Georgia, United States | Clay | Alex Kuznetsov | 6–4, 7–6(8–6) |
Winner | 10. | May 25, 2009 | Carson, California, United States | Clay | Michael Yani | 6–1, 6–1 |
Runner-up | 5. | September 7, 2009 | Alphen aan den Rijn, Netherlands | Clay | Stéphane Robert | 6–7(2–7), 7–5, 6–7(5–7) |
Runner-up | 6. | October 19, 2009 | Calabasas, California, United States | Hard | Donald Young | 6–7(4–7), 1–6 |
Winner | 11. | November 21, 2009 | Champaign , Illinois, United States
|
Hard (i) | Taylor Dent | 7–5, 6–4 |
Winner | 12. | January 31, 2010 | Honolulu, Hawaii, United States | Hard (i) | Grega Žemlja | 6–0, 6–3 |
Winner | 13. | November 11, 2012 | Knoxville , Tennessee, United States
|
Hard | Bobby Reynolds | 6–3, 6–2 |
Winner | 14. | July 6, 2013 | Manta, Ecuador | Hard | Greg Jones | 4–6, 6–0, 7–5 |
Winner | 15. | November 4, 2013 | Charlottesville, Virginia, United States | Hard | Peter Polansky | 7–5, 2–6, 7–6(7–5) |
Performance timelines
W | F | SF | QF | #R | RR | Q# | DNQ | A | NH |
Singles
Tournament | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | SR | W–L | Win % |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 1R | 2R | A | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 0 / 10 | 2–10 | 16.67 |
French Open | A | A | A | 4R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | Q1 | 1R | 1R | Q2 | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 7 | 3–7 | 30.00 |
Wimbledon | A | A | 1R | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | 2R | 1R | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | 0 / 8 | 2–8 | 20.00 |
US Open | 1R | A | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | A | Q2 | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | Q2 | A | 0 / 9 | 0–9 | 0.00 |
Win–loss | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 3–3 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–4 | 1–4 | 1–3 | 0–4 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 0 / 34 | 7–34 | 17.07 |
ATP World Tour Masters 1000
| |||||||||||||||||||||
Indian Wells Masters
|
A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 4R | A | 2R | 3R | 2R | Q2 | Q2 | 2R | Q2 | 0 / 5 | 8–5 | 61.54 |
Miami Masters
|
A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | 2R | 1R | Q2 | Q1 | Q1 | A | 0 / 3 | 2–3 | 40.00 |
Monte Carlo Masters
|
A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | 0.00 |
Rome Masters
|
A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q1 | A | A | Q1 | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | 0.00 |
Madrid Masters1 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q2 | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0.00 |
Canada Masters
|
1R | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | 2R | A | A | 1R | 2R | Q2 | Q2 | 2R | A | 0 / 6 | 3–6 | 33.33 |
Cincinnati Masters
|
A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q1 | Q2 | A | Q1 | Q2 | Q1 | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0.00 |
Shanghai Masters2 | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | Q1 | A | A | 1R | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0.00 |
Paris Masters | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | 0 / 1 | 0–1 | 0.00 |
Win–loss | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–5 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 0 / 18 | 13–18 | 41.94 |
Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||
Titles–Finals | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0 / 0 | 0–0 | 0.00 |
Year-end ranking | 288 | 232 | 155 | 87 | 157 | 502 | 250 | 256 | 144 | 82 | 242 | 83 | 99 | 99 | 87 | 92 | 158 | 557 | $2,452,569 |
1 Held as
2 Held as
Doubles
Tournament | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | W–L |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Grand Slam tournaments | |||||||||||||||||||
Australian Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | 0–1 |
French Open | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | A | A | A | 0–4 |
Wimbledon | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | 2R | 1R | 1R | A | A | 1–4 |
US Open | 1R | A | A | 1R | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | A | 1R | 1R | 1R | 1R | 2R | 3R | 3–8 |
Win–loss | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 0–3 | 1–3 | 0–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 4–17 |
Top 10 wins
# | Player | Rank | Event | Surface | Rd | Score | MR Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | |||||||
1. | Mardy Fish | 9 | Houston, United States | Clay | 2R | 6–3, 6–1 | 136 |
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Marvin Glassman (August 25, 2010). "Oldest player schools young guns at Rogers Cup". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af "Michael Russell: Circuit Player of the Week". USTA. May 25, 2008. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ Marvin Glassman (August 12, 2013). "Levine reaches milestone at Rogers Cup Tennis". The Canadian Jewish News. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ Marvin Glassman (March 30, 2010). "Peer triumphs in tennis". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "Michael Russell". ATP World Tour. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z Greg Garber (August 22, 2007). "Perseverance paying off for Michael Russell; The Roger Federers and Andy Roddicks win the titles and spend their careers in the international spotlight. However, as Greg Garber writes, their successes would not be possible without players like Michael Russell". ESPN. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
- ^ Sipple, George. "Bloomfield Hills' Michael Russell retires after 17-year tennis career". Detroit Free Press.
- ^ a b c Gene Frenette (July 17, 2001). "He'll always have Paris ...; But Russell, one of ATP's smallest players, has big long-term goals". Times-Union. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ Jim Brockman (April 19, 2012). "Russell powers past Kuznetsov". Herald Tribune. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b "Biofile with Michael Russell". Tennis-prose.com. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "Michael Russell completes undergrad program from University of Phoenix". Tennisworldusa.org. January 15, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b "Sunny Hills' Kim Advances in Miami". Los Angeles Times. April 2, 1994. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ "Wallace R. Holzman Sr. Award winners". USTA Midwest. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ "All-American Monday – Michael Russell". Hurricanesports.com. October 5, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b "2001 French Open – Kuerten rallies from brink of defeat to win in Paris". Sports Illustrated. June 3, 2001. Retrieved November 13, 2013.
- ^ Clarey, Christopher (June 4, 2001). "Top Seed Displays Big Heart Against Diminutive American Qualifier: Terrier Russell Harries Kuerten". International. New York Times.
- ^ a b c Gene Frenette (August 29, 2006). "Russell takes his last shot". The Times-Union. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ Charles Bricker (February 22, 2007). "Russell Beats All Challenges". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ Niall, Jake (January 17, 2007). "Back from the brink: Hewitt prevails". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "BC-TEN—Indian Wells Results". newsbank.com. March 12, 2007. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b Dale Robertson (April 4, 2010). "Russell's love of competition brings him to Clay Courts". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "Michael Russell tops Mardy Fish in U.S. Men's Clay Court". USA Today. December 4, 2012. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "Michael Russell bio". Legacy.tennis.com. May 1, 1978. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "Istomin to face Lopez in Memphis semi-finals". Steve G Tennis. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b "Russell rallies to win Charlottesville Challenger". The Daily Progress. November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
- ^ Douglas Robson (November 11, 2013). "American Woes Continue". USA Today. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
- ^ "Tennis – 35 year old American Micheal Russell wins ATP Challenger title in Charlottesville". Tennisworldusa.org. November 4, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ "x". Star-Telegram. February 26, 2011. Retrieved November 11, 2013.[dead link]
- ^ "The Maui Challenger; Tournament Notes" (PDF). usta.com. January 15, 2013. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
- ^ a b Josh Meiseles (September 24, 2015). "Russell Bids Farewell After 17 Years". Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP).
- ^ US Open TV broadcast, Michael Russell vs. James Blake, August 28, 2007.
External links
- Michael Russell at the International Tennis Federation
- Michael Russell at the Association of Tennis Professionals
- Michael Russell on Twitter
- Russell World Ranking History
- Wimbledon: Michael Russell video interview, USTA, June 20, 2011
- "Video: Knowing His Racket to the Gram;" Wall Street Journal, September 1, 2011
- Interview With Michael Russell, Tennis Now, December 15, 2011