Tennis Great Mako Passes Away

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 18th June 2013

Tennis Great Mako Passes Away

epa000230488 Tennis Hall of Famers Gene Mako (L) and Chris Evert walk together during the Tennis Hall of Fame 50th Anniversary celebration in Newport Rhode Island Saturday 10 July 2004. Graf, along with Stephan Edberg and Dorothy Cheney are to be inducted into the Tennis Hall of Fame Sunday. EPA/CJ GUNTHER |

Tennis Hall of Famer Gene Mako, who won four major doubles titles in the 1930s and was ranked in the world top-10 passed away at 97.

In recognition of his great tennis accomplishments, Mako was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1973.

Mako partnered with his good friend, the late Hall of Famer Don Budge to reach 7 doubles finals at Grand Slam events. They won two doubles titles at Wimbledon (1937, 1938) and two at the U.S. Championships (1936, 1938). In 1936, Mako partnered with Alice Marble to win the mixed doubles title at the U.S. Championships, defeating Budge and his partner Sarah Palfrey.

While the majority of his success was in doubles, Mako was a skilled singles player as well. He was ranked in the U.S. top-10 in 1937 and 1938, reaching as high as No. 3, and he achieved the world No. 9 ranking 1938. That same year, Mako reached the singles final of the U.S. Championships at Forest Hills, where he faced Budge. Budge won the match, ultimately achieving the Grand Slam for winning all four majors that year.

Mako was an integral part of the United States Davis Cup pursuits in the 1930s, helping the team clinch two championships. He was a member of the team from 1935 – 1938, and compiled a record of 6-3. Mako was a member of the championship U.S. teams in 1937 (against the United Kingdom) and in 1938 (against Australia).

He also had a successful tennis career at the University of Southern California, where he won the NCAA singles and doubles championships in 1934. He was inducted into the University of Southern California Athletic Hall of Fame in 1999.

Mako was born in Hungary on January 24, 1916. After World War I, Mako and his family lived in Buenos Aires, before settling in Los Angeles, Calif. Mako’s father was a skilled painter who inspired Mako to have a keen interest in art. Throughout his life he was an ardent collector and dealer of fine paintings.