Rita Pichardo

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Rita Pichardo
Full nameRita Maria Pichardo
Country (sports)Flag of Cuba.svg  Cuba
Born (1970-05-22) May 22, 1970 (age 53)
Prize money$13,063
Singles
Career record40–31
Career titles2 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 403 (23 March 1992)
Doubles
Career record52–25
Career titles6 ITF
Highest rankingNo. 209 (2 December 1991)

Rita Maria Pichardo (born 22 May 1970) is a Cuban former professional tennis player.

Contents

Pichardo, a five-time national champion, represented the Cuba Federation Cup team in 1991 and 1992. She featured in a total of six ties, including a World Group second round matchup against Romania, where she lost her singles rubber in three sets to Irina Spîrlea.

In 1993, while competing in satellite tournaments in Mexico, Pichardo made the decision to defect to the United States and with the help of friends crossed the border at Tijuana on a fake passport. [1]

ITF finals

Singles: 4 (2–2)

ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfaceOpponentScore
Win1.19 May 1991 San Luis Potosí, MexicoHard Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg Monica Mraz3–6, 6–4, 6–0
Loss1.26 May 1991 Aguascalientes, MexicoHard Flag of the United States.svg Kirsten Dreyer 6–7(4), 3–6
Win2.9 March 1992 Monterrey, MexicoHard Flag of Cuba.svg Belkis Rodríguez 6–3, 2–6, 6–3
Loss2.3 October 1993 Monterrey, MexicoClay Flag of Mexico.svg Lucila Becerra 3–6, 5–7

Doubles: 9 (6–3)

ResultNo.DateTournamentSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1.4 March 1990 León, MexicoClay Flag of Cuba.svg Yoannis Montesino Flag of Mexico.svg Hortensia Hernandez
Flag of Mexico.svg Alicia Meraz
6–0, 6–4
Win2.19 August 1990 Pesaro, ItalyHard Flag of Cuba.svg Iluminada Concepción Flag of the United States.svg Diana Chavez
Flag of the United States.svg Jolene Watanabe
7–6, 6–2
Loss1.14 October 1990 Lima, PeruClay Flag of Cuba.svg Iluminada Concepción Flag of Peru.svg Laura Arraya
Flag of Peru.svg Karim Strohmeier
4–6, 6–7
Win3.22 April 1991 Villahermosa, MexicoHard Flag of Cuba.svg Belkis Rodríguez Flag of Mexico.svg Olga Limon
Flag of Mexico.svg Isabela Petrov
6–4, 5–7, 7–6(5)
Win4.13 May 1991 San Luis Potosí, MexicoHard Flag of Cuba.svg Belkis Rodríguez Flag of Mexico.svg Xóchitl Escobedo
Flag of Mexico.svg Isabela Petrov
6–4, 1–6, 6–3
Loss2.4 November 1991 Florianópolis, BrazilClay Flag of Cuba.svg Belkis Rodríguez Flag of Chile.svg Paula Cabezas
Flag of Chile.svg Macarena Miranda
6–3, 2–6, 2–6
Win5.11 November 1991 Rio de Janeiro, BrazilClay Flag of Cuba.svg Belkis Rodríguez Flag of Chile.svg Paula Cabezas
Flag of Chile.svg Macarena Miranda
6–2, 6–3
Loss3.9 March 1992 Monterrey, MexicoHard Flag of Cuba.svg Belkis Rodríguez Flag of Mexico.svg Lucila Becerra
Flag of the United States.svg Vincenza Procacci
4–6, 4–6
Win6.20 September 1993 Guadalajara, MexicoClay Flag of Cuba.svg Belkis Rodríguez Flag of Colombia.svg Adriana Garcia
Flag of Cuba.svg Yoannis Montesino
6–3, 6–1

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References

  1. "She Feels Rosy After Defecting Out of the Blue : Cuban, Acting on Impulse, Bolted at a Tennis Tournament in Mexico". Los Angeles Times . 26 March 1994.