‘Pancho’ Contreras, tennis legend and grandfather of Fernanda Contreras, died – El Financiero

sadly passed away Francis ContrerasMexican tennis legend and grandfather of tennis player Fernanda Contreraswho recently competed in Wimbledon y Roland Garros.

The Mexican Tennis Federation announced this Tuesday the news of the death of ‘Pancho’ Contreras, at 88 years of age, in Mexico City.

“The Mexican Tennis Federation, AC, its Board of Directors and its State Associations, joins the penalty imposed on the Contreras Rodríguez Family, due to the death of Captain Legend Francisco “Pancho” Contreras Serrano”, reported the FMT.

“Father of tennis players Francisco Wimbledon, Javier Altamira, María de Lourdes Cleveland and Raquel Brisbane. Grandfather of the outstanding player Fernanda ContrerasHe is survived by his wife Maria de Lourdes, four children, eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. May he rest in peace. Mexico mourns his loss,” lamented the agency.

Who was ‘Pancho’ Contreras?

Francisco Contreras, was a Mexican tennis player, considered a legend for being the only player-captain of Mexico in a Davis Cup and teacher of other tennis players.

‘Pancho’ commanded the Mexican team that beat India and reached the final for the ‘Silver Salad Bowl’ in 1962 (they lost to Australia). The representative was made up of Contreras, Rafael ‘Pelón’ Osuna, Antonio Palafox and Mario Llamas.

That time, before facing the Asian champion India, the Mexican representative had difficulties due to his long trip from Mexico to New Orleans, Paris, New Delhi and Madras, but thanks to Octavio Paz they were able to continue in the tournament.

‘Pancho’ Contreras received support from Octavio Paz

The Mexican tennis player ‘Pancho’ Contreras met and received the support of his compatriot Octavio Paz, writer and Nobel Prize for Literature, to continue in the Davis Cup.

When Paz was Mexico’s ambassador to India, he helped Contreras and the Mexican tennis team get out of New Delhi when the Asian country went to war with Pakistan.

The writer and ambassador intervened so that the Mexican tennis players would move to Madras, a city in southern India, at the expense of the government, and face the local representative.

‘Pancho’ Contreras was the grandfather of Fernanda Contreras

Francisco Contreras, the Mexican tennis legend, was the teacher of other tennis players, including his granddaughter Fernanda Contreras, who has already begun to write her own history in this sport.

Fernanda Contreras competed a few weeks ago at Roland Garros after passing the three preliminary stages and fell in the second round.

Days later, she also passed the three Wimbledon qualifying rounds and became the first Mexican in almost three decades to participate in the main draw of the prestigious English tournament.