Gene Mako facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Gene Mako

Full name	Constantine Eugene Mako
Country (sports)	United States
Born	(1916-01-24)January 24, 1916 Budapest, Austria-Hungary
Died	June 14, 2013(2013-06-14) (aged 97) Los Angeles, California, U.S
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Turned pro	1943 (amateur tour from 1927)
Retired	1954
Plays	Right-handed (one-handed backhand)
Int. Tennis HoF	1973 (member page)
Singles
Highest ranking	No. 8 (1938, A. Wallis Myers)
Grand Slam singles results
Australian Open	QF (1938)
French Open	3R (1938)
Wimbledon	4R (1935, 1937, 1938)
US Open	F (1938)
Professional majors
US Pro	QF (1943)
Doubles
Grand Slam doubles results
Wimbledon	W (1937, 1938)
US Open	W (1936, 1938)
Mixed doubles
Grand Slam mixed doubles results
US Open	W (1936)

Constantine "Gene" Mako (born January 24, 1916 – died June 14, 2013) was a famous American tennis player. He was born in Budapest, which is the capital city of Hungary. Gene Mako won four major doubles titles in tennis during the 1930s. He was honored by being added to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1973. After his tennis career, he also owned an art gallery.

Early Life and Education

Gene Mako's father, Bartholomew Mako, was an artist. He studied at the Budapest Academy of Fine Arts. After World War I, his family moved from Hungary. They first went to Italy, then lived in Argentina for three years. Finally, they settled in Los Angeles, California, in the United States.

In Los Angeles, Gene attended Glendale High School. He then went to the University of Southern California. He was even offered a scholarship to a Hungarian university. However, he decided to leave college before finishing his degree.

Tennis Career Highlights

Gene Mako was a very talented tennis player. In 1934, he won both the singles and doubles championships for college players (NCAA). He played for the University of Southern California. He also won the boys' singles event at the U.S. National Championships twice, in 1932 and 1934. He won the boys' doubles three times (1932, 1933, and 1934).

Doubles Success

Gene Mako was especially good at playing doubles. His partner and good friend was Don Budge. Together, they reached seven major Grand Slam finals. They won four of these important matches.

In 1936, Gene Mako also won the U.S. Mixed Doubles Championships. His partner for this win was Alice Marble. They beat Sarah Palfrey and Don Budge in the final.

Davis Cup and Rankings

From 1935 to 1938, Gene Mako was part of the United States Davis Cup team. The Davis Cup is a big international team competition in tennis. The U.S. team won the Davis Cup in 1937 and 1938. In 1937, they beat the United Kingdom in the final. In 1938, they won against Australia. Gene Mako had a good record in the Davis Cup, winning six matches and losing three.

He was ranked among the top 10 players in the U.S. in 1937 and 1938. In 1938, he was ranked as high as World No. 8 by a tennis expert named A. Wallis Myers. That same year, he reached the singles final at the U.S. National Championships. He played against his doubles partner, Don Budge, who was trying to win all four Grand Slams that year.

Later Tennis and Honors

In 1939, Gene Mako faced a challenge. He was not allowed to play in some events because of rules about amateur players. It was said that he and Don Budge received money for playing a match in Australia, which was against the rules for amateur players at the time.

During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. He continued to play tennis while in the Navy. He even played professional basketball for a while.

In 1973, Gene Mako was recognized for his amazing career. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. In 1999, he was also added to the University of Southern California Athletic Hall of Fame.

Playing Style

Gene Mako was known for his strong serves and powerful shots. However, he had some injuries during his career. Because of this, he changed his playing style. He became very good at playing close to the net, using quickness and smart angles to win points.

Personal Life and Other Interests

Gene Mako had many talents beyond tennis. When he was younger, he composed music. He wrote two songs called "Lovely as Spring" and "What Did You Dream Last Night?". He also appeared in two movies, Happy Landing (1938) and Caught in the Draft (1941).

In 1941, he married an actress named Laura Mae Church. Soon after, he joined the United States Navy during World War II. After his time in the Navy, he worked in broadcasting. He also designed tennis courts.

Gene Mako was involved in other sports too. He coached wrestling and basketball at the California Institute of Technology. He also owned his own art gallery in Los Angeles called Gene Mako Galleries. He even wrote a book about his father's art. In his later years, he taught art. Gene Mako passed away in 2013 at the age of 97.

Grand Slam Finals

Singles (1 Runner-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Opponent	Score
Loss	1938	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Don Budge	3–6, 8–6, 2–6, 1–6

Doubles (4 Titles, 3 Runners-up)

Result	Year	Championship	Surface	Partner	Opponents	Score
Loss	1935	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Don Budge	Wilmer Allison John Van Ryn	2–6, 3–6, 6–2, 6–3, 1–6
Win	1936	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Don Budge	Wilmer Allison John Van Ryn	6–4, 6–2, 6–4
Win	1937	Wimbledon	Grass	Don Budge	Pat Hughes Raymond Tuckey	6–0, 6–4, 6–8, 6–1
Loss	1937	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Don Budge	Henner Henkel Gottfried von Cramm	4–6, 5–7, 4–6
Loss	1938	French Championships	Clay	Don Budge	Bernard Destremau Yvon Petra	6–3 3–6 7–9 1–6
Win	1938	Wimbledon	Grass	Don Budge	Henner Henkel Georg von Metaxa	6–4, 6–3, 3–6, 8–6
Win	1938	U.S. National Championships	Grass	Don Budge	John Bromwich Adrian Quist	6–3, 6–2, 6–1

See Also

In Spanish: Gene Mako para niños