By Blair Henley | Thursday, March 27, 2014

 

Hall of Famer Cliff Drysdale, 72, has brought the game of tennis to life for countless fans. 

(Photo Credit: Rich Neher)

The voice of ESPN’s tennis telecasts since they first aired in 1979, Cliff Drysdale’s smooth, distinguished voice is as much a part of the fan experience as the tennis itself. A former world No. 4 and founding member of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), his broadcasting style is cobbled together from over 50 years of involvement in the sport, giving viewers a front row seat even if they are sitting thousands of miles away. 
 
A native of South Africa, Drysdale has been a US citizen for over 20 years. Though he says he’s “as American as apple pie,” his accent has helped set him apart as a trusted voice in the game. His 2013 induction into the International Tennis Hall of Fame cemented his legacy, but the 72-year-old is showing no signs of slowing down, growing his tennis management company when he’s not traveling to the most prestigious events on the tennis calendar.

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Looking dapper clad in a Miami-appropriate tan linen suit, Drysdale sat down with Tennis Now for an insightful Q & A.
 
Vice President of Event Production Jamie Reynolds has described you as the “godfather” of the ESPN broadcast team. That’s a lot of pressure!
I’m not sure what he means, actually (laughing). I’m still trying to figure that out. I do have a very nice relationship with the team. We talk about being a family, and in this business of egomaniacs, we are surprisingly compatible. We’re like a traveling family.
 
I’m sure you’ve refined your broadcasting style over time. Knowing what you know now, what advice would you have given your rookie self years ago?
I would say that the lesson that I should have learned a long time ago is to be a little more sparing with the number of words. Maybe make the words count a little more.
 
Some might look at your career and wonder why you aren’t enjoying retirement on the beaches of South Florida. What keeps you going at this point?
I think about that. And then I think that means not going to Australia and enjoying the sun in January; not going to Wimbledon during the best time to be in England; being in frantic New York City, weather-wise probably the best time of the year there, too. It’s a hard to thing to walk away from. Those are nice places to be.
 
How honest can you be on the air? Do you ever feel like you’re holding back because you have a TV audience?
I think in this era of political correctness, I might phrase things differently than if there was no political correctness. Fundamentally, I don’t think that there’s a bad person out there that I wouldn’t say is a bad person if they were. I think you can pretty much get across who the nice guys or gals are.

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How do you know how far to go as far as criticism is concerned?
I think we’re pretty critical from time to time. I don’t think we’re really shy about saying what we’re thinking. If you don’t, you sound like an idiot. If you see somebody dogging a match and you don’t say it, then you look like a dog.
 
In this era of Twitter and instant feedback, do you pay attention to what viewers are saying? People generally have strong feelings about commentators.
Honestly, if I followed it, I probably would be upset. But I don’t. I feel like I’d be affected too much if I read stuff that people were saying.
 
You’ve seen a lot of amazing tennis moments in your career. Do any stand out as highlights?
There was the Davis Cup tie that we played against Paraguay. There were stones being thrown around. I really felt for the personal safety of Fred Stolle. It was Jim Simpson, myself, and Fred was at the court. I was afraid they might lynch him. I don’t think I should have feared that, but I was really worried about his safety.
 
The other one was the Pete Sampras/Jim Courier match in Australia when Pete’s coach had been diagnosed with brain cancer. He was in tears in the middle of that match. That was one of the most dramatic moments. Honestly, there have been hundreds of dramatic moments that have captured my imagination.
 
You’ve watched the Roger Federer narrative closely. Are you surprised by his ability to bounce back this year?
I’m definitely not surprised. We’ve been here before. This is the song that we sung three or four years ago when he was supposed to be in decline. It was nonsense to write him off so soon. I think if you put the same four players in [the draw] week in and week out, he would not be at the top of the batch. But with a little bit of good fortune, he’s a threat. I said he’d win two Grand Slams, and he’s won one. I think he’s got another one in him.
 
Which player do you find most exciting right now?
Dolgopolov. I just love watching someone who is so unpredictable. He’s got so many unorthodox shots. I’m also a huge fan of the Djokovic. He has an extraordinary talent. He combined this physical stamina with the mentality that’s very tough to beat.

Follow Blair Henley on Twitter: @blairhenley