RUSSELL Tennis Academy launched two tournaments on Wednesday at Deep Dene/Campion, one beginning next week and the other to get under way early next month.

With the backing of HyLite Sport Drink, the fourth Russell Tennis Academy 10 and Under Singles tournament will serve off on June 30 at Campion College and Deep Dene on Hopefield Avenue.

Sts Peter & Paul Prep, Mona Prep, Hillel Prep, Stella Maris Prep, Hopefield Prep, AISK, Queen’s Prep, Liberty Prep, Pegasus, Creative Kidz, Porter Centre and St Andrew’s Prep will take part in the competition.

Matches will take place between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm and some 70 children are expected to participate.

Tournament director Richard Russell declared his delight at the launch: “We work very closely with children of all ages and have a vested interest in seeing tennis grow in Jamaica, beginning with these talented children.”

“We are especially grateful that HyLite has partnered with us to do these tournaments. We’re also grateful to Campion for allowing us to use their facilities as we strive to create excellent tennis players from this wonderful pool of kids,” Russell went on.

He added that Locker Room Sports, another major sponsor, was committed to assisting the children and the tournament by providing discounted gift certificates for winners and runners-up of both tournaments.

The other tournament, the RTA Junior Tennis Open, is a series which will begin on July 7 at Campion College. The first of this two-day series will divided into two categories –14 & Under and 18 & Under.

Meanwhile Rayne Russell, another tournament director, said has an academy the aim is to

“We work with kids of all ages, whether they are beginners, intermediate or advanced, and as an academy our aim is to “create a foundation with the beginners and to help the others to build on their skills”.

Rayne Russell spoke glowing of 14-year-old Campion College student Samech Herah, the recipient of the Russell Tennis Academy Sponsorship.

“All the kids are good but this child is very talented and shows perseverance and if pushed some more, will be a force to reckon with in the future,” he noted.

Locker Room Sports will be assisting Herah with her tennis kit, sneakers, racquet and all other essential equipment.

Other sponsors of the tournaments are Dominoes Pizza, Nature Valley, Ocean Spray Wata, KLAS and Konnect Marketing.

Russell Tennis Academy is owned and operated by Jamaica’s leading tennis family comprising Richard, Craig, Ryan and Rayne Russell. Together, they have over 25 years of experience. They currently operate tennis programmes at Hillel Academy and Campion College.