Show U. U S. S MUST BANK ON MAKO MAKOl l West Coast Co st Star Shows Big Promise By ERSKINE JOHNSON JOnNSON Special The to-The Telegram LOS ANGELES Jan 3 The 3 The year was 1927 An lly year old arold youngster with blond curly curb hair played his first set of ot tennis here I Spectators at the thc public court where r th the g game a mew was va vaL a L played were L amazed The green I kid took to the k game like a duck L takes to water i j. j Seasoned players play play- It ers applauded several several sev zev- eral cral of hl his b bril r 11 shots when Vc they the were t told 0 I d 4 that he was pl playing play y F f t 1 in ing the game ame for tor forthe fortL tL v. v 1 the first time in his life iCe lat later r they son o n advised h him 1 m to take up the game seriously Toda Today this same youth 18 years old is one of Uncle Sams Sam's hopes for tor forthe forthe the 1935 Davis cup squad He Is good good- looking Gene ne Mako a native of Budapest Budapest Buda Buda- pest Hungary Hungar and a member of or the University of Southern Cali California tennis team Le Lester ter national In Indoor champion thinks so o much of his tiis ab ability lity that he has hns predicted the lad will dethrone Fred Perry as world champion next year ear Mako Isn't banking too much on prediction but he does docs hope to o represent the United States in the doubles competition tion with Donald Budge another Pacific coast player as cs his partner Perry Terry and lid Shields Easy Euy Mako and Budge won the national clay court doubles last summer but lost ost to and George Lott in inthe inthe inthe the national doubles at Philadelphia Close observers of the sport already al at- ready have paced Mako and Budge Budgeon on the cup team in their minds now that Lott and have turned professional and they are inclined to support the latter's letters prediction that the Los Angeles bo boy has a good chance of or upsetting Perrys Perry's reign In addition to holding a flock of titles Mako Maleo ha has the distinction of or defeating de eating Perry rry and n Francis r X- X Shields ranking mg United States blates player in straight sets acts The world champion champon was upset by the youngster in an exhibition match matchin in irs Los An Angeles last October 6 0 6 2 2 and Shields bowed to the university star 6 4 6 6 3 at Palm Springs Sprin Cal in December A tennis player with natural ability iMako Mako a six footer weigh weigh- In In- In pounds has good balance timing and rhythm lie He plays a cautious game Kame preferring to outlast outlast out out- last st hI his opponent in returning the ball baU although he hits hils fairly hard hardat at all aU times and comes to the net whenever there is an opening In high school Mako played three years rears on the varsity team and cap cop tamed the squad in his senior year Durin During this period he proved t to be bea a good observer and watched and Imitated imitated Imi imi- Throughout his career Mako refused refused re re- fused to pIa play anyone he could beat going oin in for touch until he ic was able to defeat his more experienced experienced experienced opponents Totes LoU Loic of Till TitIe This summer found Mako l well wen on ons hi hiM s way lo to world tennis lame fame Among other titles he won the mens men's western western west west- em ern intercollegiate singles single at Ojai Ojal Cal Cat over Jack of U. U C. C L. L A. A former champion With Phil Castlen a schoolmate Mako won the western eastern and national intercollegiate doubles Laer La- La Leter ter er he won the national intercollegiate ate singles over Gilbert Hunt of Washington D ID C. C the Indiana state singles and the Pacific southwest doubles double title with Budge from Stoe Stoe- ten len and LoU tott Althou Although h loss of ot LoU Lott and Stoe Stoe- fen en to the 1935 Davis CUD cun team was a ablow ablow blow ilow to Uncle Sams Sam's tennis hopes Mako o confidently sax vs there is nothing nothing noth noth- ing lag to worry orr about An Am American J double team turn ran can win the Wh title Wilmer on and John Van an Ryn ran can do the trick and 10 o can ran Berkeley Be Bell BeU Belland H Hand and Gregory After Alter a lot of ot coaxin coaxing Mako bash bashfully fully admits that he and Don Budge are a pretty good combination too In addition to being a swell tennis player Mako is an apt student He can speak Spanish Hun Hungarian arian Russian Russian Rus sian and French a as no well as English and is studying for tor the diplomatic service ser ser- vice Young Mako has hac natural ability in I Iother other sports too He played but one game of ot golf in his life me and then shot under Any golfer goUer will tell yo you I that t is Quite a feat |