Gene Mako

Born in Hungary, Gene Mako quickly settled in after moving to Southern California as a boy. He picked up tennis soon after coming to the U.S., and was winning tournaments in the Los Angeles area by the time he was 12. Mako went on to star at USC, winning the singles and doubles titles (with Phillip Caslin) in 1934. In 1935, Mako used his powerful serve to advance to the fourth round of both Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals. A shoulder injury in 1936 made his serve much less of a weapon, Mako focused more on doubles. Mako and childhood friend Don Budge made for a formidable pair, reaching the finals of seven majors and winning the U.S. Nationals in 1936 and ’38 and Wimbledon in 1937-38. Mako and Alice Marble also won the U.S. mixed doubles title in 1936. Mako, who died in 2013 at age 97, was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1973.