Michael Russell (tennis player)

Michael Russell
Country  United States
Residence Houston, Texas, USA
Born May 1, 1978 (1978-05-01) (age 33)
Detroit, Michigan, USA
Height 5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Turned pro 1998
Plays Right-handed (two-handed backhand)
Career prize money US$1,314,085
Singles
Career record 41–94
Career titles 0
Highest ranking No. 60 (August 13, 2007)
Current ranking No. 99 (December 26, 2011)
Grand Slam results
Australian Open 2R (2008, 2011)
French Open 4R (2001)
Wimbledon 2R (2010)
US Open 1R (1998, 2000, 2001, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011)
Doubles
Career record 11–27
Career titles 0
Highest ranking No. 222 (November 12, 2001)

Michael Craig Russell is an American tennis player.

Russell is best known for, on two occasions, holding surprise two-set leads in Grand Slam tournaments against former Grand Slam champions before eventually being defeated both times. In the 4th round of the 2001 French Open (his best run at a Grand Slam tournament) against defending and eventual champion Gustavo Kuerten, Russell led two sets to love and 5–3 in the third set, also missing a match point.[1] In the 2007 Australian Open, he held a two sets to love lead over former U.S. Open and Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt before succumbing in five sets.[2]

In the 2007 Indian Wells Masters event, he made it to the final 16 players in a 96-player field, after upsetting 11th seed – and 12th-ranked – Tomáš Berdych in round 2. He reached his career highest ranking of 60 in August 2007 after reaching 2nd round of Montreal TMS. Both his mother and father are tennis coaches.

Contents

Playing style

Russell is a defensive counter-puncher, known for his footspeed and consistency. 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".[3]

Tour tennis titles (19)

Tennis Masters Series (0)
ATP Tour (0)
Challengers (11)
Futures (8)
No. Date Tournament Surface Opponent in the final Score
1. May 17, 1999 Vero Beach Clay Irakli Labadze 7–6, 6–3
2. May 31, 1999 Weston Clay Hugo Armando 6–3, 6–2
3. January 31, 2000 Amarillo Hard(i) Stefano Pescosolido 7–5, 6–2
4. May 31, 1999 Mobile Hard Martin Verkerk 4–6, 6–1, 6–4
5. June 21, 2004 Montreal Hard Domenic Marafiote 6–3, 6–3
6. June 28, 2004 Buffalo Clay Jorge Aguilar 6–3, 6–0
7. July 5, 2004 Pittsburgh Clay Kean Feeder 6–1, 6–0
8. July 12, 2004 Granby Hard Davide Sanguinetti 6–3, 6–2
9 October 17, 2005 Arlington Hard Benedikt Dorsch 6–1, 6–3
10. November 28, 2005 Orlando, Florida Hard Todd Widom 6–4, 6–2
11 February 20, 2006 Brownsville, Texas Hard Brendan Evans 6–2, 6–1
12. August 14, 2006 Bronx Hard Paul Capdeville 6–0, 6–2
13. November 27, 2006 Maui Hard Sam Warburg 6–1, 6–0
14. January 1, 2007 Nouméa Hard David Guez 6–0, 6–1
15. January 22, 2007 Waikoloa Hard Jamie Baker 6–1, 7–5
16. February 12, 2007 Joplin Hard(i) Frédéric Niemeyer 6–4, 6–1
17. May 3, 2009 Carson Clay Michael Yani 6–1, 6–1
18. November 21, 2009 Champaign Hard(i) Taylor Dent 7–5, 6–4
19. January 31, 2010 Honolulu Hard(i) Grega Žemlja 6–0, 6–3

Singles Performance Timeline

To prevent confusion and double counting, information in this table is updated only after a tournament or the player's participation in the tournament has concluded.

Tournament 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 W–L
Grand Slam Tournaments
Australian Open A A A 1R 1R A A A A 1R 2R A 1R 2R 2–6
French Open A A A 4R 1R A A A A 1R A Q1 1R 1R 3–5
Wimbledon A A 1R A 1R A A A A 1R A A 2R 1R 1–5
US Open 1R A 1R 1R A A A A 1R 1R A Q2 1R 1R 0–6
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 0–0 6–22
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
Year End Ranking 288 232 155 87 157 502 250 256 144 82 242 83 99 99

References

  1. ^ Clarey, Christopher (June 4, 2001). "Top Seed Displays Big Heart Against Diminutive American Qualifier : Terrier Russell Harries Kuerten". http://www.iht.com/articles/2001/06/04/tennis_ed3__1.php. 
  2. ^ Niall, Jake (January 17, 2007). "Back from the brink: Hewitt prevails". The Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/news/tennis/back-from-the-brink-hewitt-prevails/2007/01/17/1168709764203.html. 
  3. ^ US Open TV broadcast, Michael Russell vs. James Blake, Aug. 28, 2007.

External links

Association of Tennis Professionals: Top ten American male singles tennis players, as of December 5, 2011
1. Mardy Fish (8 ) · 2. Andy Roddick (14 ) · 3. John Isner (18 ) · 4. Donald Young (39 ) · 5. James Blake (59 )
6. Ryan Sweeting (72 ) · 7. Ryan Harrison (79 ) · 8. Sam Querrey (93 ) · 9. Michael Russell (99 ) · 10. Bobby Reynolds (127 )