Cliff Drysdale retirement: Why legendary tennis commentator is stepping down after US Open

ESPN announced that 84-year-old tennis legend and commentator Cliff Drysdale is retiring, honoring him with a heartfelt tribute on Wednesday.

Updated on: Sep 4, 2025, 02:30:43 IST

By Shamik Banerjee

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Legendary tennis commentator and former player, Cliff Drysdale, is retiring from his broadcasting career, ESPN announced in a touching tribute to the 84-year-old on Wednesday. A Hall of Fame tennis player, Drysdale joined ESPN just as the network went on air in 1979.

Cliff Drysdale. (Cliff Drysdale Tennis on X)

He made his tennis broadcasting debut on December 14, 1979, in the USA vs Argentina tennis match in the Davis Cup, ESPN's Vice President, Bill Hofheimer, remembered, announcing Drysdale's retirement news.

"This is just a beautiful tribute to Cliff Drysdale who is retiring after US Open," Hofheimer wrote on X. “Cliff has been part of ESPN since he called the network's first tennis telecast – USA vs Argentina in the Davis Cup on Sept 14, 1979, one week after ESPN debuted. A legend!”

Why Is Cliff Drysdale Retiring

Cliff Drysdale did not explicitly state why he is drawing the curtains on his over 46-year career as a tennis commentator. Fans on social media speculated that the retirement decision could be related to the 84-year-old's age. However, neither ESPN nor Drysdale has stated why he is retiring.

Drysdale now joins the list of legendary sports announcers in the US who have stepped down in 2025. Stan Varnett, the longtime 'Sports Center' anchor, Lee Corso, the "College GameDay" broadcaster, are some of the other legendary names of sports broadcasting who left ESPN this year.

Also read: Who is Taylor Fritz's mother Kathy May and what happened to her face?

Tributes Pour In For Cliff Drysdale

As soon as Cliff Drysdale's retirement decision was announced on Wednesday's broadcast of the US Open, tennis fans expressed shock at the departure of the long-time “voice of tennis.”

“Thank you, Cliff Drysdale. What beautiful words that was said to him, and for many that has watched tennis for years, his voice IS tennis. Not saying goodbye, but so long,” wrote one user.

“Awesome piece on Cliff Drysdale. Wow will he be missed! He is truly special. Rare gem It won't be the same broadcast ever again,” said another.

“Loved @espn ’s package on Cliff Drysdale! He and Fred Stolle are my favorite commentating duo of all time,” added another.

September 7, the final day of the US Open 2025, will be Drysdale's last day at the booth.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Shamik Banerjee
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More

Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, where Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.