Tennis great Gene Mako dies in Calif. at 97

[June 18, 2013]  LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Tennis great Gene Mako, who won four major doubles titles and was ranked in the world top 10 during the 1930s, has died in Southern California. He was 97 years old.

The International Tennis Hall of Fame said Mako died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. The hospital confirmed his death.

Mako and his friend Don Budge won two doubles titles at Wimbledon in 1937 and 1938 and two at the U.S. Championships in 1936 and 1938.

As a singles player, Mako reached the final of the U.S. Championships in 1938, where he lost to Budge.

Before turning pro, Mako won the NCAA singles and doubles championships in 1934 while at the University of Southern California.

Mako served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

[Associated Press]

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