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Friday, February 16, 2001
Mashiska Washington happy being his own man
Younger brother of 1996 Wimbledon finalist, MaliVai, competing in USTA Futures of Corpus Christi
Andrea Wall
Caller-Times

George Gongora/Caller-Times

Mashiska Washington returns a shot to the No. 1 seed Justin Bower in Wednesday's rounds of the USTA Futures Tournament.

With quiet determination, Mashiska Washington has come into his own.
   Washington, the younger brother of 1996 Wimbledon-finalist-turned-ESPN-tennis-analyst MaliVai Washington, knows he is his own person. But doesn't always mind his brother's shadow.
   "Sometimes it's just more comfortable in the shade," said Washington, one of the players in this week's 2001 USTA Futures of Corpus Christi tournament at the H-E-B Tennis Center.
   "But I have known him before the world knew him, before he turned pro, before he went into college and before you ever knew who he was," Washington said of his older brother. "He doesn't change the fact that everybody is their own individual."
   Mashiska Washington doesn't express a lot verbally or physically while playing, but still is a strong presence on the court.
   "He is a great player, but is a gentleman at the same time, which you don't always see," said Norma Wilke, the tournament director for this week's event. "When I watched him play doubles, he was always encouraging his partner, no matter how well or poorly they were playing."
   Washington, 26, a Michigan State graduate and a member of the United States Tennis Association professional circuit, thinks that most people would like having a star in their family.
   "I certainly don't mind being overshadowed by my brother sometimes," Washington said. "I can't see a lot of people minding that a member of their family is a legend."
   For other players on the USTA circuit, Washington is always "Mashiska," rather than "MaliVai's little brother."
   "Once you get to know someone, you see them and not who they know, or who is related to them," said Jim Bower, a South African and No. 1 seed at the Futures Tournament. "I sometimes wonder if he feels pressure, but I know most of the guys out here respect him as his own player."
   Bower defeated Washington 7-5, 1-6, 6-3 Thursday at the Futures tournament. In the first set, serve was rarely held as Bower and Washington took turns breaking each other.
   Washington breezed through the second set, but struggled with his serve game in the third.
   "I think we are equals on the baseline, but I have a bigger serve and that was a factor," Bower said. "I hit a lot harder on the first serves."
   High winds were a problem for both players, but Washington, a Florida resident, seemed to deal with them better.
   "It is just another part of the game that you have to adjust to," Washington said. "I hit outside a lot, so it didn't bother me too much."
   Volleys were rare in the match, with both players spending the majority of their time at the baselines.
   "With wind like that you just need to concentrate on hitting the ball hard and try to be as precise as possible," Bower said.
   The USTA Futures of Corpus Christi tournament started Feb. 12 and will last through Feb. 18. The tournament is designed mostly for players to have a chance at earning more ranking points. Points boost a player's ranking, which will ultimately allow them to enter the Grand Slams and other prominent tournaments.
   "We are trying to give these guys an opportunity to get to the next level," said Jim Handly, USTA supervisor. "These tourneys aren't money makers, but they do give people a chance to watch great players. A few years down the road, they will probably recognize some of the names they saw here."
   Past USTA Futures circuit players include Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, Patrick Rafter and Anna Kournikova.
   "High quality tennis players have been here in the past and are here this week," Wilke said. "I hope that the Corpus youth will take advantage of the opportunity they have to come watch and talk to these players. There could be an Agassi in this bunch."

Staff writer Andrea Wall can be reached at 886-3631 or by e-mail at walla@caller.com

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