Previous
Ahead, Past, Former
セン
さき, ま
先 （セン、さき, ま） Previous, Ahead, Past, Former
前 （ゼン、まえ） Front, Before
洗 （セン、あら） Wash
Yuri says 先 means "near" because it can mean either "previous" or "ahead" depending on the word. Words like この先 use the "ahead" meaning.