Jean Washer

Jean Washer
Full nameJean Marie Octave Constant Washer
Country (sports)Belgium
Born(1894-08-22)22 August 1894
Berchem, Antwerp, Belgium
Died23 March 1972(1972-03-23) (aged 77)
Geneva, Switzerland
PlaysLeft-handed (one-handed backhand)[1]
Singles
Career record15–7
Highest rankingNo. 9 (1923, A. Wallis Myers)[2]
Grand Slam singles results
French OpenSF (1925)
WimbledonQF (1924)
US Open3R (1927)
Other tournaments
WHCCF (1921, 1923)
Team competitions
Davis CupQF (1921)

Jean Marie Octave Constant Washer (French pronunciation: [ʒɑ̃ waʃe]; 22 August 1894 – 23 March 1972) was a Belgian tennis player successful in the 1920s. He was the father of Philippe Washer.[3]

Tennis career

Washer reached the final of the World Hard Court championships (the precursor to the French championships) in 1921, beating Jean Borotra in the quarter finals. He lost the final in straight sets to Bill Tilden. The correspondent from Le Sport universel illustré summed up the Belgian by saying "Washer is one of the most conscientious players in existence. Solid, robust, he reminds me completely of one of the best forwards in the world of rugby".[4] The article went on to describe the final and said Washer had a "very good forehand" and made a "better showing than the result seems to indicate, because he obliged the great Tilden to work hard".[4] In 1923 he reached the final again, beating Henri Cochet in five sets. "The Belgian attacked with magnificent brilliance" and his service "began to annoy Cochet too".[5] Washer lost the final to Bill Johnston. Washer reached the semifinals of Roland Garros in 1925, beating Cochet in the quarter finals. Cochet had lost five times to that point against Washer and had not beaten him.[6] Washer won the match with a fast and powerful drive.[6] Washer lost to Jean Borotra in the semi finals.[7] Washer also reached the quarters in 1926 and the quarterfinals of the 1924 Wimbledon Championships.

He was ranked world No. 9 by A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph for 1923.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Big Bill Wins In 20 Minutes", Spokane Daily Chronicle, August 26, 1927, p. 12.
  2. ^ a b United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). Official Encyclopedia of Tennis (First Edition), p. 424.
  3. ^ "Jean Washer". Olympedia. Retrieved 4 September 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Les championnats du monde de Lawn-tennis sur terre battue". Le sport universel illustré. 10 June 1921. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  5. ^ "Lawn tennis". L'Auto. 27 May 1923. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Lawn tennis". La Presse. 5 June 1925. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
  7. ^ "French Open 1925". www.tennis.co.nf. Archived from the original on 2017-09-24. Retrieved 2017-10-05.