Marissa Dizon Sanchez, one of Pampanga’s best during her legendary tennis career in the 70s, passed away on Sunday, Jan. 4. She was 69.
Sanchez of Angeles City and Magalang was the country’s No. 1 player in 1975 after reigning supreme in the National Open and the Philippine Tennis Association Open.
She became more than an idol for tennis fans when she won a medal in the 1977 SEA Games, a feat that made her the first Filipina tennis player to so.
She also represented the country – among the very first Filipina tennis players – in the Federation Cup — the women’s equivalent of the Davis Cup.
Her finest moments came in 1978 when she helped power the PH team in the main draw of the Federation Cup.
She retired from competitive tennis in the 80s to focus on coaching the next beneration of stars.
