George Lott

George Martin Lott (October 16, 1906 – December 3, 1991) was an American tennis player and tennis coach who was born in Springfield, Illinois.

Lott is mostly remembered as being one of the great doubles players of all time.

In 1927, he defeated Canadian Willard Crocker in a five-set final; in 1928, he defeated Frank Shields in straight sets in the final; in 1930, he defeated Frederic Mercur in a five-set final; and in 1931, he defeated Berkeley Bell in straight sets in the semifinals and John Van Ryn in a five-set final.

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 then lost to Frank Hunter in the semifinals.

In 1928, he won the Pinehurst Resort title on clay, defeating Shields in the final in a five-set match.

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.

In 1931, Lott beat defending champion Doeg in the semifinals, then lost to Ellsworth Vines in the final.

Lott won the Canadian Covered Court Championships four times.

In 1934, Lott became a touring professional, giving up his amateur status and the ability to play in Grand Slam tournaments.

He signed a professional contract in November 1934 with promoter Bill O'Brien and in January 1935 and started a series of head-to-head matches against Bill Tilden; by March, he trailed Tilden 5–26.

Lott was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1964.

He had been inducted into the school's Athletics Hall of Fame in 1984.

Lott was the men's tennis coach at [DePaul University from 1969 until his death in Chicago on December 3, 1991.