Gene Mako
Encyclopedia
Constantine Mako (born January 24, 1916) is a former American tennis
player and is also an art gallery owner. He was born in Budapest
, capital of Hungary. He won four Grand Slam doubles titles in the 1930s. Mako was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
in Newport, Rhode Island
, in 1973.
in 1913. After World War I, he left Hungary with his wife and only son traveling first to Italy and stopping for three years in Buenos Aires
, Argentina
, before settling in Los Angeles, California
.
where he lettered at USC for three years (1934-36-37).
Mako was especially successful as a doubles player with his partner and friend Don Budge
. They competed in 7 Grand Slam finals, 4 of which they won.
In 1936 Gene Mako and Alice Marble
won the finals at the US Mixed Doubles Championships
against Sarah Palfrey and Don Budge (6:3 and 6:2).
From 1935 to 1938 Mako was member of the United States Davis Cup team, which this team won in 1937 (against the United Kingdom
) and in 1938 (against Australia
).
Mako was in the U.S. Top Ten in 1937 and 1938 (No. 3), and No. 9 in the world ranking of 1938. That year he reached the U.S. final at Forest Hills versus his double partner, Don Budge
, who was in pursuit of the first Grand Slam. Unseeded, Mako reached his only major singles final on victories over sixth-seed Frank Kovacs and the third and first foreign seeds, Franjo Punčec and John Bromwich.
During the Second World War Mako served on the United States Navy
. He continued to play tennis at that time. He also played professional basketball while stationed in Norfolk, Virginia
.
In 1973 Mako was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
. In 1999 he was elected to the University of Southern California
(USC) Athletic Hall of Fame.
Mako has a long-time interest in art as evidenced by his Gene Mako Galleries, Los Angeles, California.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player and is also an art gallery owner. He was born in Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, capital of Hungary. He won four Grand Slam doubles titles in the 1930s. Mako was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, in 1973.
Early life
His father, Bartholomew Mako graduated from the Budapest Academy of Fine ArtsUniversity of Fine Arts Budapest
The Hungarian University of Fine Arts is the central Hungarian art school in Budapest, Andrássy Avenue...
in 1913. After World War I, he left Hungary with his wife and only son traveling first to Italy and stopping for three years in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, before settling in Los Angeles, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Tennis champion
In 1934 he won the NCAA singles and the doubles championships while playing for the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
where he lettered at USC for three years (1934-36-37).
Mako was especially successful as a doubles player with his partner and friend Don Budge
Don Budge
John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional...
. They competed in 7 Grand Slam finals, 4 of which they won.
In 1936 Gene Mako and Alice Marble
Alice Marble
Alice Marble was a World No. 1 American tennis player who won 18 Grand Slam championships : 5 in Singles, 6 in Women's Doubles, and 7 in Mixed Doubles.-Early life:Born in the small town of Beckwourth, Plumas County, California, Marble moved with her family at the age of...
won the finals at the US Mixed Doubles Championships
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
against Sarah Palfrey and Don Budge (6:3 and 6:2).
From 1935 to 1938 Mako was member of the United States Davis Cup team, which this team won in 1937 (against the United Kingdom
Great Britain Davis Cup team
The Great Britain Davis Cup team represents the United Kingdom in Davis Cup tennis competition and is controlled by the Lawn Tennis Association. The United Kingdom played in the very first International Lawn Tennis Challenge...
) and in 1938 (against Australia
Australia Davis Cup team
The Australian Davis Cup team is the second most successful team ever to compete in the Davis Cup, winning the coveted title on 23 separate occasions, second behind the United States with 32....
).
Mako was in the U.S. Top Ten in 1937 and 1938 (No. 3), and No. 9 in the world ranking of 1938. That year he reached the U.S. final at Forest Hills versus his double partner, Don Budge
Don Budge
John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional...
, who was in pursuit of the first Grand Slam. Unseeded, Mako reached his only major singles final on victories over sixth-seed Frank Kovacs and the third and first foreign seeds, Franjo Punčec and John Bromwich.
During the Second World War Mako served on the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. He continued to play tennis at that time. He also played professional basketball while stationed in Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
.
In 1973 Mako was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame
International Tennis Hall of Fame
The International Tennis Hall of Fame is located in Newport, Rhode Island, United States. The hall of fame and honors players and contributors to the sport of tennis and includes a museum, grass tennis courts, an indoor tennis facility, and a court tennis facility.-History:The hall of fame and...
. In 1999 he was elected to the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC) Athletic Hall of Fame.
Mako has a long-time interest in art as evidenced by his Gene Mako Galleries, Los Angeles, California.
Runner-up (1)
| Year | Championship | Opponent in Final | Score in Final |
| 1938 | US National Singles Championships U.S. Open (tennis) The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881... |
 Don BudgeDon Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
6–3, 6–8, 6–2, 6–1 |
Wins (4)
| Year | Championship | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1936 | US National Doubles Championships |  Don BudgeDon Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
Wilmer Allison Wilmer Allison Wilmer Lawson Allison, Jr. was an American amateur tennis champion of the 1930s... / John Van Ryn John Van Ryn John Van Ryn was an American tennis champion of the 1930s. He was primarily known as being a great doubles player with Wilmer Allison.- External links :*... |
6–4, 6–2, 6–4 |
| 1937 | Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon The Championships, Wimbledon, or simply Wimbledon , is the oldest tennis tournament in the world, considered by many to be the most prestigious. It has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, London since 1877. It is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the other three Majors... |
Don Budge Don Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
 Pat HughesPat Hughes (tennis) George Patrick Hughes was an English tennis player.Pat Hughes and Fred Perry won the doubles at Roland Garros in 1933 and in Kooyong in 1934. Hughes later teamed up with Raymond Tuckey. They won the doubles in Wimbledon in 1936... / Raymond Tuckey Raymond Tuckey Charles Raymond Davys Tuckey was an English tennis player.Raymond Tuckey and Pat Hughes won the doubles in Wimbledon in 1936. Between 1937 and 1937 he was member of the British Davis Cup team.... |
6–0, 6–4, 6–8, 6–1 |
| 1938 | Wimbledon | Don Budge Don Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
 Henner HenkelHenner Henkel Henner Henkel was a German tennis player.He was the second German to win the singles title at the French Championships in 1937. The same year, he and Gottfried von Cramm also won the Roland Garros doubles title.Henkel was killed in action at Battle of Stalingrad.- External links :* *... / Georg von Metaxa |
6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 8–6 |
| 1938 | US National Doubles Championships | Don Budge Don Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
 John BromwichJohn Bromwich John Edward Bromwich was a male tennis player from Australia who, along with his countryman Vivian McGrath, was one of the first great players to use a two-handed forehand.... / Adrian Quist Adrian Quist Adrian Karl Quist was an Australian male tennis player.-Biography:Adrian Quist was born in Medindie, South Australia. The tennis legend grew up in Adelaide and once played Harry Hopman, however he lost, only because he gave Hopman a head start... |
6–3, 6–2, 6–1 |
Runner-ups (3)
| Year | Championship | Partner | Opponents in Final | Score in Final |
| 1935 | US National Doubles Championships | Don Budge Don Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
Wilmer Allison Wilmer Allison Wilmer Lawson Allison, Jr. was an American amateur tennis champion of the 1930s... / John Van Ryn John Van Ryn John Van Ryn was an American tennis champion of the 1930s. He was primarily known as being a great doubles player with Wilmer Allison.- External links :*... |
6–2, 6–3, 2–6, 3–6, 6–1 |
| 1937 | US National Doubles Championships | Don Budge Don Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
 Henner HenkelHenner Henkel Henner Henkel was a German tennis player.He was the second German to win the singles title at the French Championships in 1937. The same year, he and Gottfried von Cramm also won the Roland Garros doubles title.Henkel was killed in action at Battle of Stalingrad.- External links :* *... / Gottfried von Cramm Gottfried von Cramm Gottfried Alexander Maximilian Walter Kurt Freiherr von Cramm was a German amateur tennis champion and twice French Open champion.-Birth:... |
6–4, 7–5, 6–4 |
| 1938 | French Championships | Don Budge Don Budge John Donald Budge was an American tennis champion who was a World No. 1 player for five years, first as an amateur and then as a professional... |
 Bernard DestremauBernard Destremau Bernard Destremau was a top-level French tennis player, diplomat and politician.A precocious French junior champion, Destremau later won several major tournaments including the 1941 and the 1942 French Championships, which was at the time restricted to players either from countries under German... / Yvon Petra Yvon Petra Yvon Petra was a French male tennis player. He was born in Cholon, Vietnam. He is best remembered as the last Frenchman to win the Wimbledon championships men's singles title in 1946, beating Geoff Brown in five sets in the final... |
6–3 3–6 7–9 1–6 |