HOUSTON - Rice women’s tennis volunteer assistant coach Jennifer Russell reached a career high this month, reaching 50th in the Women’s Tennis Association’s most current doubles ranking.
The ranking comes after Russell advanced to the quarterfinals of the Australian Open and the Italian Open with partner Maria Santangelo. With the number 50 worldwide ranking, Russell is sixth in the United States, behind Lisa Raymond, Meghan Shaughnessy, Martina Navratilova, Corina Morariu and Lindsay Davenport.
Next up for Russell and Santangelo is the DFS Classic at Birmingham, England, beginning June 6 followed by the Ordina Open in S-Hertogenbosh, Netherlands, starting June 13. The pair finish the month at the Championships at Wimbledon where they advanced to the round of 16 in 2004.
In addition to WTA tournament action, Russell is also a member of the St. Louis Aces of World Team Tennis. The Aces will be in town to play the Houston Wranglers on July 6 at the Westside Tennis Club. For more information, please contact Rice women’s tennis at 713-348-6035.
Okay, I haven't really had much chance to make any quality posts, since opening this thread!
I think Jennifer deserves that much, at least !
Anyway, as I said, she and Jim played mixed doubles at Wimbledon.. They managed to get on Court 3, on Thursday-unfortunately it was pretty late, so a bit dark, and starting to get very cold. Jim and Jennifer ran away with the first set 6-1, but for some reason the game suddenly turned right around, and they lost the next two sets 46 57.
I have a DVD of the match, and it is a shocker! So unexpected, I think Jim was pretty surprised too...
I hope they team up in Flushing Meadows, that'd be really cool Not sure how much chance there is of that happening, but we'll just wait and see, I guess..
had no idea Jennifer Russell was Jennifer Embry (always wondered what happened to Jennifer Embry)
just checked her WTA bio
and she played singles.......... singles high 319 (May 2001)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Former Purdue tennis standout Jennifer (Embry) Russell has advanced to a women's doubles quarterfinal at the Australian Open, one of four Grand Slam professional tennis tournaments.
A native of Houston, Russell has paired with Mara Santangelo of Italy to win three straight matches in Melbourne. In their last match, the unseeded Russell and Santangelo defeated eighth-seeded Elena Dementieva of Russia and Ai Sugiyama of Japan, 6-4, 6-4.
In quarterfinal action, Russell and Santangelo will face either Janet Lee and Shuai Peng, or Gabriela Navratilova and Michaela Pastikova. Some well-known names challenging Russell for the Open women's doubles title are Lindsay Davenport and Martina Navratilova. Russell could meet Davenport and Corina Morariu in the semifinals. A match-up with Navratilova and Daniela Hantuchova would take place in the championship round.
I kinda like Jennifer Russell ever since I saw her win the doubles title in Hasselt with Mara Santangelo. She was smiling the whole time and all... Really a joy to watch