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MaliVai Washington (first name pronounced:
mal-a-VEE-a) (b. June 20 1969, in Glen Clove, New
York) is a former professional tennis player from
the United States. He is best remembered for
reaching the men's singles final at Wimbledon
Championships|Wimbeldon in 1996.

An African-American, Washington began playing
tennis at the age of five. In the late-1980s he
played tennis for the University of Michigan and
was ranked the No. 1 college player in the US at
the end of his sophomore season. He then turned
professional in 1989. 

He first notable tour result came in 1990, when he
defeated Ivan Lendl in straight-sets in the second
round of the tournament at New Haven, Connecticut.
Just a week earlier, Lendl had lost the World No.
1 ranking to Stefan Edberg, and he would have
regained it if he had won that match. 

Washington won his first top-level singles title
in 1992 at Memphis, Tennessee. 

In 1996, Washington reached his first (and only)
Grand Slam (tennis)|Grand Slam final at Wimbledon.
In the final, he faced the Dutch player Richard
Krajicek and lost in straight-sets 6-3, 6-4, 6-3. 

During his career, Washington won four tour
singles titles. His career-high singles ranking
was World No. 11 in 1992. 

The later years of Washington's career were
plagued by injuries, and he retired from the
professional tour in 1999. Since retiring, he has
served as a TV analyst with ESPN. 

In 1994, Washington established the MaliVai
Washington Kids Foundation to "teach achievement
and positive life skills through the game of
tennis". 

His sister Mashona Washington is also a
professional tennis player.


==External Links==

*http://www.atptennis.com/en/players/playerprofile
s/default2.asp?playernumber=W124 Official ATP
profile
*http://www.malwashington.com/ MaliVai Washington
Kids Foundation website