{{short description|Belgian tennis player}} {{Infobox tennis biography |name = Jean Washer |image = Jean Washer 1921.jpg |caption = |fullname = Jean Marie Octave Constant Washer |country = {{flagu|Belgium}} |birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1894|08|22}} |birth_place = Berchem, Antwerp, Belgium |death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1972|03|23|1894|08|22}} |death_place = Geneva, Switzerland |height = |college = |turnedpro = |retired = |plays = Left-handed (one-handed backhand)<ref name="Spokane1927">[https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=ddB7do2jUx8C&dat=19270826&printsec=frontpage&hl=en "Big Bill Wins In 20 Minutes"], ''Spokane Daily Chronicle'', August 26, 1927, p. 12.</ref> |careerprizemoney = |tennishofyear = |tennishofid = |website = |singlesrecord = |singlestitles = |highestsinglesranking = No. 9 (1923<small>, A. Wallis Myers</small>)<ref name="USLTAEncyclopedia">United States Lawn Tennis Association (1972). ''Official Encyclopedia of Tennis'' (First Edition), p. 424.</ref> |currentsinglesranking = |AustralianOpenresult = |FrenchOpenresult = SF (1925) |Wimbledonresult = QF (1924) |USOpenresult = 3R (1927) |Othertournaments = yes |WHCCresult = F (1921, 1923) |doublesrecord = |doublestitles = |highestdoublesranking = |currentdoublesranking = |grandslamsdoublesresults = |AustralianOpenDoublesresult = |FrenchOpenDoublesresult = |FrenchOpenDoublesseniorresult = |WimbledonDoublesresult = |WimbledonDoublesseniorresult = |USOpenDoublesresult = |OthertournamentsDoubles = |OlympicsDoublesresult = |Mixed = |mixedrecord = |mixedtitles = |AustralianOpenMixedresult = |FrenchOpenMixedresult = |WimbledonMixedresult = |USOpenMixedresult = |Team = yes |DavisCupresult = QF (1921) }}
'''Jean Marie Octave Constant Washer ''' ({{IPA|fr|ʒɑ̃ waʃe}}; 22 August 1894 – 23 March 1972) was a Belgian tennis player successful in the 1920s. He was the father of Philippe Washer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/685 |title=Jean Washer |work=Olympedia |access-date=4 September 2021}}</ref>
==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 quarterfinals. 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".<ref name=":washer1921">{{cite news|date=10 June 1921|title=Les championnats du monde de Lawn-tennis sur terre battue|newspaper=Le sport universel illustré|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k65781539/f15.image.r=Washer%20Borotra%201921?rk=21459;2|accessdate=15 October 2024}}</ref> 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".<ref name=":washer1921" /> 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".<ref name=":washer1923">{{cite news|date=27 May 1923|title=Lawn tennis|newspaper=L'Auto|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k46292965/f1.image|accessdate=15 October 2024}}</ref> Washer lost the final in five sets to Bill Johnston. He 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.<ref name=":washer1925">{{cite news|date=5 June 1925|title=Lawn tennis|newspaper=La Presse|url=https://gallica.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/bpt6k6018512/f3.image|accessdate=15 October 2024}}</ref> Washer won the match with a fast and powerful drive.<ref name=":washer1925" /> Washer lost to Jean Borotra in the semifinals.<ref name="gsta">{{cite web|title=French Open 1925|url=http://www.tennis.co.nf/FRENCH%20OPEN%201925.htm|website=www.tennis.co.nf|access-date=2017-10-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924225701/http://www.tennis.co.nf/FRENCH%20OPEN%201925.htm|archive-date=2017-09-24|url-status=dead}}</ref> Washer also reached the French quarterfinals in 1926 as well as at the 1924 Wimbledon Championships.
He was ranked world No. 9 by A. Wallis Myers of The Daily Telegraph for 1923.<ref name="USLTAEncyclopedia"/>
==World Championships finals==
===Singles (2 runner-ups)===
{|class="sortable wikitable" |- !Result !Year !style="width:210px"|Championship !Surface !style="width:130px"|Opponent !style="width:155px" class="unsortable"|Score |- | style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1921 || style="background:#ebc2af;"|World Hard Court Championships || Clay || {{flagicon|USA}} Bill Tilden || 3–6, 3–6, 3–6 |- | style="background:#ffa07a;"|Loss || 1923 || style="background:#ebc2af;"|World Hard Court Championships || Clay || {{flagicon|USA}} Bill Johnston || 6–4, 2–6, 2–6, 6–4, 3–6 |}
==References== {{reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{ATP}} * {{ITF}} * {{Davis Cup player}} * {{Wimbledon}} * {{Tennis Archives}} * {{Sports-Reference | wa/jean-washer-1 | Jean Washer}} *{{olympics.com}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Washer, Jean}} Category:Belgian male tennis players Category:1894 births Category:1972 deaths Category:Olympic tennis players for Belgium Category:Tennis players at the 1920 Summer Olympics Category:Tennis players at the 1924 Summer Olympics Category:Tennis players from Antwerp