Eugene L. Scott: Remembering a Tennis Icon
As a truth teller, tournament director, world champion, and respected tennis voice, Eugene L. Scott served many roles and had a staggering impact on Open Era tennis. In celebration of the tennis icon’s approaching birthday, 10sBalls.com looks back on the Tennis Week publisher’s brilliant and impactful career.
Called the “conscience of tennis” by Tennis Magazine and a “tennis Renaissance man” by those in the sport, Gene Scott was a visionary who touched tennis at virtually every level for more than 40 years until his passing at age 68 from Amyloidosis, a rare protein blood disorder, on March 20th, 2006 at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Scott was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2008.
As a player, publisher, agent, administrator, and tournament director who ran the ATP’s season-ending Masters at Madison Square Garden and created the Kremlin Cup, Scott’s unique perspective empowered him to see issues from all angles—a “Vantage Point” he occupied alone.
Relying on a strong serve-and-volley game, Scott reached a career-high world ranking of No. 11 in 1965 and was ranked inside the United States’ Top 10 five times. He advanced to the French quarterfinals in 1964 and the U.S. National Championships semifinals in 1967, facing Rod Laver on Centre Court at Wimbledon. He was undefeated in Davis Cup competition and won more than 40 senior championships.
The New York native’s passion for tennis was apparent in his life-long devotion to the sport. He played tennis with world leaders ranging from former United States President George H.W. Bush to former Russian President Boris Yeltsin and was equally enthusiastic partnering with wife Polly at annual mixed doubles events at Manursing Island Club in Rye, N.Y., along with their kids, Lucy and Sam.
