LONG before Alyssa James was walking into locker rooms at Wimbledon, navigating five-week international tours, or earning a scholarship to the University of Virginia, she was an eight-year-old taking aim at a chair.

The chair had been placed on a court by the late Jamaican tennis icon Richard Russell. His method was simple: Set up a target, step back, and serve until you hit it.

“He was such a beloved gentleman, a fine gentleman, and a good coach,” James’ mother, Juliet Thompson, recalls. “He said we should craft a road to Wimbledon. He provided us with a lot of resources and tips. Russell wasn’t only a coach, but also provided us with wisdom on the journey.”