Cliff Drysdale, “Cliffie…” to many, was the lead commentator for the first US Open Women’s Singles semifinal on Thursday, September 4th… It was his final match for ESPN… and what a way to go out…
Aryna Sabalenka escaped with a two hour, seven minute, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, victory over Jessica Pegula in contest that was dramatic… for the action that was featured, with a berth in the final at stake, as well as the fact it was Drysdale’s farewell…
He first played the US National Championships at Forest Hills in 1962… and was a competitor at the magnificent facility 11 more times…
In 1965, he was a 6-2, 7-9, 7-5, 6-1 Men’s Singles finalist to Manuel Santana… and participated twice when the Open moved to Flushing Meadow in 1978, giving him a total of 14 tournament appearances.
Three years after his Santana showing, Drysdale was a 1968 Men’s Singles quarterfinalist. In 1972, he was the Men’s Doubles winner, teaming with Roger Taylor to defeat Owen Davidson and John Newcombe 6-4, 7-6, 6-3.
From my perspective, he is atop the list of “Acclaimed …” South Africans with notable tennis backgrounds… Gordon Forbes, the renowned “Handful of Summers” author, is No. 1, since he was an esteemed raconteur. Drysdale is almost a match… Intellectually he is tellingly competent… after all, in 1972 he became the first President of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and served until 1974.
Gifted with candor, he can easily shift from being subtly biting to uproariously humorous… and I know… having played Cliffie and been on the receiving end of his verbal adeptness dating back to the 1960s.
To borrow from Sade, he is “A smooth operator…” whose appealing presence is bolstered by radiant charm.
When he came on the international tennis scene in 1962, he was one of the early players on the men’s tour to hit two a handed backhand, along with Giuseppe “Beppe” Merlo. They followed predecessors John Bromwich and Vivian McGrath who struck “double handed” backhands in the 1930s and ‘40s.
Drysdale’s broadcast delivery was melodious… and he didn’t “waterfall…” listeners with a tumble of words. In the semifinal, he was measured as he worked with Mary Joe Fernandez, thoughtfully interspersing comments during the match that featured Sabalenka thumping 43 winners while Pegula was good for 21. The winner also totaled 27 unforced errors compared to 15 for her opponent… Break points conversions were the key… Pegula was “0” for the four in the third set.
Shortly after finishing his playing career, Drysdale embarked on another, joining ESPN on, September 14, 1979, the year the network was launched. Around that time, he also became a naturalized US citizen. Bob Ley joined the ESPN Class of 1979 on September 5th, when he retired in 2019, Drysdale, already an institution, became ESPN’s longest tenured commentator.
Having described the action at all the majors, while being recognized as “The Voice” of US Davis Cup coverage, his library of significant matches is expansive. None more memorable than the Sunday, July 11, 1982, six hour, 32 minute US-Sweden tie deciding quarterfinal rubber at the Checkerdome in St. Louis, Missouri. In it, John McEnroe edged Mats Wilander 9-7, 6-2, 15-17, 3-6, 8-6.
When the US became his home, Drysdale first settled in Austin, Texas then moved to Key Biscayne, Florida but returned to Austin’s Hill Country in 2019.
In 1968, he became a member of “The Handsome Eight”, signing with Lamar Hunt for the World Championship Tennis (WCT) Tour. Pierre Barthes, Butch Buchholz, John Newcombe, Niki Pilić, Dennis Ralston, Tony Roche and Roger Taylor were the other “Handsomes…”
Thirty years later, the USTA honored Drysdale with the William M. Johnston Award for his contribution to men’s tennis.
He received the game’s ultimate honor in 2013 when he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
After missing a smash on the first match point and a volley on the second, Sabalenka hit a forehand winner to conclude the day’s first semifinal. Drysdale offered, “It was really a high quality match… a mental battle between two very good players… Jessica Pegula leaves as a champion… Aryna Sabalenka really had to work hard…” – and the fact that she saved five of seven break points in the match and won 90 points to Pegula’s 88 justified the statement.
Recognizing that his broadcasting career had come to an end was “bittersweet…” but Drysdale added, “… it is a nice match to go out on”.
Mary Joe Fernandez was emotional, saying “This is a sad moment for me… It is hard to express … This has been the best 25 years working with a class act… He is the Roger Federer of broadcasting…”
Pam Shriver, who worked the match courtside, praised her close relationship with Cliffie, adding that now that he was retired, she looked forward to playing more golf with him… (Drysdale is an accomplished golfer and a close friend of Jack Nicklaus.)
Patrick McEnroe and Chris Evert, who were about to call the Amanda Anisimova–Naomi Osaka second semifinal, joined Fernandez and Drysdale in the ESPN booth to say goodbye to Cliffie.
McEnroe admitted, “You were like another father, another brother and most importantly, an amazing friend… When I got started (in broadcasting) 30 years ago…you took me under your wing… We love you, we’re going to miss you”.
Drysdale, who was never short of words, responded, “Like a bad penny”.
Evert talked about Drysdale petrifying her when she was young and doing everything possible to avoid him because he was handsome, had charisma and a swagger that made her uncomfortable.
Once she began working with him, she realized that he was adored and made those he worked with feel like stars.
She said, “…Cliff you were the leader… the source of so much information… to me you are legendary…”
It was 16,792 days… 46 years… from September 14, 1979, when he joined ESPN until September 4th when he called his final match (though McEnroe said, “…we are expecting you to make ‘guest appearances’ in the future.”)
Admitting the situation was poignant because of so many memories and that those he worked with were family… he thanked Patrick, Chrissy, Mary Joe and Pam, along with the “country of people” behind the scenes.
Then, as only he could, he signed off…
“I’m Cliff Drysdale… Thank you “Over and out…”
Title photo of Cliff Drysdale at his last shift as a commentator by ESPN