Joseph Lizardo

Joseph Lizardo
Full nameJoseph Francisco Lizardo
Country (sports) Philippines
Born (1969-01-17) January 17, 1969 (age 55)
Height5 ft 9 in (175 cm)
Singles
Career record12–15 (Davis Cup)
Highest rankingNo. 731 (23 Oct 1995)
Doubles
Career record0–3 (Davis Cup)
Highest rankingNo. 883 (10 May 1993)
Medal record
Southeast Asian Games
Silver medal – second place 1995 Chiang Mai Men's team
Silver medal – second place 1997 Jakarta Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1995 Chiang Mai Men's singles
Bronze medal – third place 1997 Jakarta Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Bandar Seri Begawan Men's team
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Kuala Lumpur Men's team

Joseph "Popet" Francisco Lizardo (born January 17, 1969[1]) is a Filipino former professional tennis player.

Education

Lizardo attended the University of Santo Tomas High School before moving to the United States to study Temple University in Philadelphia under a full scholarship and obtained a double degree in international Business and marketing in 1991.[2][3][4]

Playing career

Lizardo began playing tennis competitively at age 12.[3]

Lizardo played in the junior draws of Wimbledon and the US Open, before competing for Temple University as a scholar student-athlete.[3] He won an A-10 singles championship in 1987.[4]

By 1993, Lizardo emerged as the top player for the Philippines, a distinction he held until 1999.[2] He represented the Philippines in the Davis Cup as well as in regional events, including the 1994 Asian Games. He won six medals for the Philippines at the Southeast Asian Games. In Davis Cup competition, Lizardo featured in a total of 14 ties, from 1992 to 1999, winning 12 singles rubbers. His best win came against former top-50 player Shuzo Matsuoka of Japan in 1995.

Post-playing career

Lizardo was coach of the Ateneo Blue Eagles' tennis team from 1999 to 2000.[3] He later became the head of the whole program for the sport.[5]

He was the non-playing captain of the Philippine Davis Cup team in 2001 and later coach in 2024.[6][7]

Personal life

Lizardo is married to Filipino American actress Belinda Panelo.[8] They became boyfriend-girlfriend in the late 1990s.[9] They moved to New York in 2003 before resettling in California by 2017.The couple has two children.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Joseph Francisco Lizardo". Davis Cup. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  2. ^ a b Clarito, Ariel Ian (November 20, 2024). "Midlife Halftime: Joseph Lizardo returns to lead PH's Davis Cup revival". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Tanyu Coyiuto, Stephanie (July 25, 2003). "Master strokes from Popet Lizardo". The Philippine Star. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Former No. 1 Tennis Player in the Philippines Continues to Transform Tennis in Cerritos". Patch. December 12, 2011. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  5. ^ "Lizardo tennis program up at Shangri-La". The Philippine Star. February 19, 2003. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  6. ^ "RP Davis Cuppers start from scratch". The Philippine Star. February 4, 2001. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  7. ^ Payo, Jasmine (November 24, 2024). "Philippine tennis earns Davis Cup Group IV promotion". Rappler. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  8. ^ "Former MTV VJ Belinda Panelo-Lizardo pursues dream of finishing school at UCLA". Philippine Entertainment Portal. May 20, 2017. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved October 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "MTV babe hitches her wagon to another star". The Philippine Star. August 13, 2001. Retrieved December 10, 2024.
  10. ^ Tuazon, Nikko (May 23, 2017). "Former MTV VJ Belinda Panelo-Lizardo pursues dream of finishing school at UCLA". PEP.ph. Philippine Entertainment Portal, Inc. Retrieved December 10, 2024.