MaliVai Washington facts for kids
Washington at the US Open, 2010
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| Country (sports) |  United States |
|---|---|
| Residence | Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, US |
| Born | June 20, 1969 Glen Cove, New York, US |
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) |
| Turned pro | 1989 |
| Retired | 1999 |
| Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| Prize money | $3,232,565 |
| Singles | |
| Career record | 254–184 (58%) |
| Career titles | 4 |
| Highest ranking | No. 11 (October 26, 1992) |
| Grand Slam singles results | |
| Australian Open | QF (1994) |
| French Open | 4R (1993) |
| Wimbledon | F (1996) |
| US Open | 4R (1992) |
| Other tournaments | |
| Grand Slam Cup | QF (1996) |
| Olympic Games | QF (1996) |
| Doubles | |
| Career record | 27–44 (38%) |
| Highest ranking | No. 172 (April 20, 1992) |
| Grand Slam doubles results | |
| US Open | 2R (1991) |
MaliVai "Mal" Washington (born June 20, 1969) is an American former professional tennis player. He is best known for reaching the men's singles final at the famous Wimbledon tournament in 1996. During his career, he won four major tennis titles and reached a high ranking of world No. 11 in October 1992.
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Early Life and Family Ties
MaliVai Washington started playing tennis when he was just five years old. Tennis runs in his family! His younger sister, Mashona, also became a professional tennis player and was ranked among the top 50 in the world. His younger brother, Mashiska, played tennis at Michigan State University before joining the professional tour. MaliVai's older sister, Michaela, also played tennis professionally.
College Tennis Career
In high school, MaliVai was coached by Victor Amaya, who was also a professional tennis player. MaliVai played tennis for the University of Michigan for two seasons. He was the top-ranked college player in the United States during his second year. He decided to leave college early to become a professional tennis player.
Professional Tennis Journey
MaliVai Washington became a professional tennis player in 1989.
Early Successes
In 1990, when he was ranked No. 103, he had a big win against Ivan Lendl, who was ranked No. 2 in the world at the time. This showed everyone his potential!
The year 1992 was a breakthrough for MaliVai. He won two important titles: the Memphis tournament and the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Charlotte, North Carolina. These wins helped him reach his highest career ranking of No. 11 in October of that year.
In 1993, he reached his first "Masters" final in Miami, but he lost to the legendary Pete Sampras.
Grand Slam Highlights
At the 1994 Australian Open, MaliVai reached the quarterfinals, which is a great achievement at a Grand Slam event. He beat Michael Stich, who was ranked No. 2, in the first round. He also had impressive wins against other top players like Michael Chang and Stefan Edberg that year. In October 1994, he won his third ATP title in Ostrava.
In 1995, he defeated Andre Agassi, who was the world No. 1 player, at the Essen Masters. He made it to the final of that tournament.
Wimbledon Final and Injury
MaliVai's biggest moment in tennis came in 1996 when he reached the final of the Wimbledon Championships. This was a huge surprise, as many people didn't expect him to go that far. He had to fight hard, even coming back from being far behind in his semifinal match to win! He eventually lost the final to Richard Krajicek. Later that year, he got a bit of revenge by beating Krajicek easily at the Grand Slam Cup.
Unfortunately, MaliVai started having problems with a knee injury in 1997. This injury caused him to miss a lot of playing time in 1997 and 1999. Because of this, he decided to retire from professional tennis in December 1999.
Awards and Community Work
After retiring from tennis, MaliVai Washington continued to make a positive impact.
In 2009, he received the Arthur Ashe Humanitarian of the Year award. This award recognized his amazing work through the MaliVai Washington Youth Foundation. This foundation helps children and young people, especially those who are less fortunate, by teaching them tennis and supporting their education.
In 2015, he received the NJTL Founders' Service Award from the USTA (United States Tennis Association). This award honored his ongoing efforts to support tennis and education for children and young people.
Major Tournament Finals
Grand Slam Singles Final: 1 (1 Runner-up)
| Result | Date | Championship | Surface | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loss | 1996 | Wimbledon | Grass |  Richard Krajicek |
3–6, 4–6, 3–6 |
See also
In Spanish: MaliVai Washington para niños
