George Lott


George Martin Lott was an American tennis player and tennis coach who was born in Springfield, Illinois, United States. Lott is mostly remembered as being one of the greatest doubles players of all time. He won the U.S. title five times with three different partners: John Hennessey in 1928; John Doeg in 1929 and 1930; and Les Stoefen in 1933 and 1934. At the U. S. championships singles in 1928, Lott beat Christian Boussus and John Doeg before losing to Frank Hunter in the semi finals. In 1931 Lott beat defending champion Doeg in the semi finals before losing to Ellsworth Vines in the final. In 1934 Lott became a touring professional, thereby giving up his amateur status and the ability to play in Grand Slam tournaments. In 1929 and 1930 he was ranked World No. 6 and No. 7 by A Wallis Myers; No. 6 by Pierre Gillon in 1930; and in 1931 was ranked No. 4 by Züricher Sport.
Lott was the men's tennis coach at DePaul University from 1969 until his death in Chicago on December 3, 1991. He had been inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984.
He signed a professional contract in November 1934 with promoter Bill O'Brien and in January 1935, at Madison Square Garden, started a series of head-to-head matches against Bill Tilden and by March trailed him 5–26.
Lott was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1964.

Grand Slam finals

Singles (1 runner-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfaceOpponentScore
Loss1931U.S. ChampionshipsGrass Ellsworth Vines9–7, 3–6, 7–9, 5–7

Doubles (8 titles)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1928U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass John Hennessey Gerald Patterson
Jack Hawkes
6–1, 6–2, 6–1
Win1929U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass John Doeg Berkeley Bell
Lewis White
10–8, 16–14, 6–1
Win1930U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass John Doeg John Van Ryn
Wilmer Allison
8–6, 6–3, 4–6, 13–15, 6–4
Win1931French ChampionshipsClay John Van Ryn Vernon Kirby
Norman Farquharson
6–4, 6–3, 6–4
Win1931WimbledonGrass John Van Ryn Jacques Brugnon
Henri Cochet
6–2, 10–8, 9–11, 3–6, 6–3
Win1933U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Lester Stoefen Frank Shields
Frank Parker
11–13, 9–7, 9–7, 6–3
Win1934WimbledonGrass Lester Stoefen Jean Borotra
Jacques Brugnon
6–4, 7–5, 6–1
Win1934U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Lester Stoefen Wilmer Allison
John Van Ryn
6–4, 9–7, 3–6, 6–4

Mixed doubles (4 titles, 1 runner-up)

ResultYearChampionshipSurfacePartnerOpponentsScore
Win1929U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Betty Nuthall Phyllis Covell
Bunny Austin
6–3, 6–3
Win1931WimbledonGrass Anna McCune Harper Joan Ridley
Ian Collins
6–3, 1–6, 6–3
Win1931U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Betty Nuthall Anna McCune Harper
Wilmer Allison
6–3, 6–3
Loss1933U.S. National ChampionshipsGrass Sarah Palfrey Elizabeth Ryan
Ellsworth Vines
9–11, 1–6
Win1934French ChampionshipsGrass Helen Jacobs Elizabeth Ryan
Lester Stoefen
4–6, 13–11, 6–2

Other tennis achievements