The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

VETERAN tennis player Larikah Russell has opted not to travel with the Billie Jean Cup team next month in Panama because of her difference in role on Team Bahamas.

She has been replaced by collegian Elana Mackey, who will join player/captain Kerrie Cartwright, Sydney Clarke and Simone Pratt when Team Bahamas plays in the American Zone II competition June 23-26.

Bahamas Lawn Tennis Federation president Perry Newton admitted that Russell decided not to travel because she felt she was “disrespected” by not being selected as the captain.

“It’s kind of my fault. I didn’t communicate with her that Kerrie was selected as the captain,” Newton said. “She’s a bit upset about that.”

Cartwright served as player/captain of the last team that consisted of Clarke, Danielle Thompson and Sierra Donaldson, who reached the final, only to lose 2-0 to Peru in Zone II in Lima, Peru. She has compiled a 19-8 record in singles and 8-6 in doubles for a total record of 27-14 since she began playing Fed Cup (now renamed Billie Jean Cup) in 2008.

Russell, who first began playing Fed Cup since 2000, last played in 2014. She has compiled a 14-8 record in singles and 17-9 in doubles for a total record of 31-17.

Grand Bahamian born Russell, also one of the top softball players in the country, was not available for comments.

With her absence, Newton said they have gotten the consent from Mackey and they are going to press forward with the team in place.

“We’re still making our plans. It would have been nice if Larikah was still a part of the team, but I think we still have a lot of people capable of filling the void,” he said.

“Elana now has a year of college under her belt, so I think she will be a good addition to the team. She has played Fed Cup before (in 2017), so this is a good opportunity for her.”

New mother Cartwright, who has been ranked internationally on the Women Tennis Association (WTA) in singles and doubles, noted that they will miss not having Russell on the team.

“I’m sad that she’s not coming, but at the same time, I understand and I know that in life you can’t really control everything, so I’m hoping she’s okay and next year we can play together again because I love playing doubles with her,” Cartwright said.

“I’m looking forward to playing with Elana, I know she’s a very good player and so we have to roll with the punches.

“Whatever obstacle comes our way, I hope that as a team, we can pull through.”

With a group of young players to work with, Cartwright said she hopes they can all stay focused on the task ahead of them and get the job done. “These young girls are ready,” said Cartwright, the top ranked female player in the country. “Sydney has just been named as an All-American on the freshman team. That’s amazing.”

Clarke, the former number one junior player in the country and the Caribbean, just completed her freshman year at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Having played on the Billie Jean Cup team since 2017, Clarke is 1-3 in singles and 2-0 in doubles for a total win-loss record of 3-3.

Pratt, along with Cartwright, are now the team veterans with five ties under her belt from 2010. She has a 12-11 total win-loss record, going 8-8 in singles and 4-3 in doubles.