Tennis legend Richard Russell is dead
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaican tennis legend Richard Russell has passed away. He was 79.
Russell died Wednesday morning in Montego Bay, St James after being admitted to hospital with pneumonia.
Russell, regarded as the island’s most successful player, boasts the record of the only Jamaican to pass the first round of all four major grand slam tournaments, namely the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open.
He was the founder and director of the Russell Tennis Academy which has helped in developing young talent across the country. Russell also served as a director of Tennis Jamaica and was a founding member of the Association of Tennis Professionals.
In 2022, Russell was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the Rank of Officer (OD). He was also inducted into the Black Tennis Hall of Fame in 2019.