Cliff Drysdale
Encyclopedia
Cliff Drysdale is a former top-ranked professional tennis
player of the 1960s and early 1970s who became a well-known tennis announcer. He was one of the Handsome Eight
, signed by Lamar Hunt
in 1968 for the newly formed World Championship Tennis
(WCT) group. He became President of the Association of Tennis Professionals
(ATP) when it was formed by Jack Kramer, Donald Dell
, and himself in 1972.
During his career, Drysdale captured five singles titles and six doubles titles including winning the 1972 U.S. Open
doubles crown. He defeated Rod Laver
in the first US Open in 1968. He became a naturalized United States
citizen after retiring as a player. Today, he serves as a tennis commentator on ESPN
. He is the founder of Cliff Drysdale Tennis (along with partners Don Henderson and Tom Brownhill) which specializes in resort, hotel, and club tennis management.
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
player of the 1960s and early 1970s who became a well-known tennis announcer. He was one of the Handsome Eight
Handsome Eight
The Handsome Eight were eight professional tennis players that Lamar Hunt signed in 1968 for his newly formed tour, World Championship Tennis...
, signed by Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt
Lamar Hunt was an American sportsman and promoter of American football, soccer, basketball, and ice hockey in the United States and an inductee into three sports' halls of fame. He was one of the founders of the American Football League and Major League Soccer , as well as MLS predecessor the...
in 1968 for the newly formed World Championship Tennis
World Championship Tennis
World Championship Tennis was a tour for professional male tennis players established in 1968 and lasted until the emergence of the ATP Tour in 1990...
(WCT) group. He became President of the Association of Tennis Professionals
Association of Tennis Professionals
The Association of Tennis Professionals or ATP was formed in 1972 by Donald Dell, Jack Kramer, and Cliff Drysdale to protect the interests of male professional tennis players. Since 1990, the association has organized the worldwide tennis tour for men and linked the title of the tour with the...
(ATP) when it was formed by Jack Kramer, Donald Dell
Donald Dell
Donald Dell is an attorney and was a professional tennis player, U.S. Davis Cup captain, and administrator. Dell was one of the first professional sports agents, having represented professional tennis players Arthur Ashe, Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors, and Ivan Lendl during pro tennis' golden age...
, and himself in 1972.
During his career, Drysdale captured five singles titles and six doubles titles including winning the 1972 U.S. Open
U.S. Open (tennis)
The US Open, formally the United States Open Tennis Championships, is a hardcourt tennis tournament which is the modern iteration of one of the oldest tennis championships in the world, the U.S. National Championship, which for men's singles was first contested in 1881...
doubles crown. He defeated Rod Laver
Rod Laver
Rodney George "Rod" Laver MBE is an Australian former tennis player who holds the record for titles won in career, and was the World No. 1 player for seven consecutive years, from 1964 to 1970...
in the first US Open in 1968. He became a naturalized United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
citizen after retiring as a player. Today, he serves as a tennis commentator on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. He is the founder of Cliff Drysdale Tennis (along with partners Don Henderson and Tom Brownhill) which specializes in resort, hotel, and club tennis management.