TennisWorthy

Cliff Drysdale is a preeminent voice in tennis broadcasting, but his commentary skill on television is just the latest chapter in a career that touches all aspects of the sport. Starting at a very young age in South Africa, Drysdale was a self-taught competitor who played alongside and claimed victories against some of the best in tennis history.

In 1968, Drysdale became one of the founding members of World Championship Tennis known as the Handsome Eight. With host Chris Bowers, he discusses the early days of professional tennis, and how it was firstly an opportunity for him to continue playing the game he loved. When the ATP began in 1972 as representation for the growing body of professional players, Drysdale was named President, and talks about how he stumbled into the role. For him, the start of the pro era was less about consciously changing the game, and more about the common sense of including players in decisions.

Cliff Drysdale captured the 1972 US Open title with Roger Taylor, and was a finalist at the 1965 U.S. Nationals in singles. He captured 23 career titles in singles, rising to a career-high ranking of world No. 4 in 1965. As a member of World Championship Tennis, he advanced to three WCT Finals, and was a leading figure in the ATP's Wimbledon boycott in 1973. He has commentated for ESPN for more than 30 years, since the network's first tennis broadcast in 1979. He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in the Contributor Category in 2013.

In 2021, the International Tennis Hall of Fame inducted its first group of contributors simultaneously: the Original 9. Together in 1970, these nine women broke from the established tennis landscape to sign $1 contracts with promoter Gladys Heldman, creating the first women's tennis tour. The early years of professional women's tennis were challenging, defiant and ultimately, hugely successful in creating equity and a platform for women in sports.

Two members of the Original 9, Rosie Casals and Judy Tegart Dalton, along with fellow Hall of Famer Ann Jones, discuss those early years. With Blair Henley, Casals and Dalton share why they risked their careers to break the status quo and why timing in the 1970s was key to gaining momentum. They share memories of playing with and against each other, and the lesser-known hard work behind the scenes of growing women's tennis.

Later in the episode, Jones tells Chris Bowers how the camaraderie between the women's players fueled progress in the early years of the Virginia Slims tour. Jones shares how solidarity between the players, regardless of nationality, helped foster a key sense of purpose in making tennis a sustainable career.

Tommy Haas reached the world No. 2 ranking in singles in 2002, and then endured a series of injuries that delivered setbacks. Despite the obstacles, he persisted in his career, remaining at the top of the game for another decade-plus and winning two ATP Comeback Player of the Year awards.

With Chris Bowers, Tommy discusses his journey from winning tournaments as a small child in his native Germany to getting the invite to train with Hall of Fame coach Nick Bollettieri in Florida. He details Nick's impact on his career and how he worked to grow on small successes as a junior. Throughout his injuries, he remained positive, and shares how a "why not?" mentality kept him pushing for more.

Tommy Haas is a four-time Grand Slam semifinalist in singles, former world No. 2, and an Olympic silver medalist. He captured 15 career singles titles on the ATP Tour. His final victory as a professional player on tour came against Roger Federer in 2017 at age 39. In 2016, Haas was named the Tournament Director for the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, and continues in the role today.

Kim Clijsters mastered the art of the comeback during her tennis career. After first retiring at age 23 to become a mother, she returned to the sport two years later and captured three of her four singles Grand Slam titles in her second act. Through it all, she was able to find the balance needed to be both a mother, daughter, friend and elite athlete.

With Brett Haber, Kim discusses a wide array of subjects from her career to her life in retirement. She shares her mental secrets to success, her rivalry with Belgian countrywoman Justine Henin, and her deep love for the sport. In reflecting on some of her greatest moments, she remembers the friendships she developed and the constant support of her family.

Kim Clijsters is a three-time US Open singles champion, Australian Open singles champion and doubles champion at both Wimbledon and Roland-Garros. She is a former No. 1 in both singles and doubles, and was inducted to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2017. She currently gives back to the sport as the President of the Hall of Fame, serving as an ambassador and working behind the scenes to grow the Hall's mission to preserve, celebrate and inspire.

Esther Vergeer's career accomplishments and statistics are mind-boggling: 42 Grand Slam titles, 407-match win streak in singles until her retirement, 668 weeks at world No. 1. Her story of illness as a child, to discovering tennis and shattering records, stands unique amongst the sport's legends.

With Blair Henley, Esther details how she became an athlete after becoming paralyzed at age 8 and set her sights early on becoming a Paralympian. Once she reached the top, she continuously found ways to remain motivated and find a new edge, working with legendary coach Sven Groeneveld to make each other better. Esther shares her story of motherhood, induction into the Hall of Fame and her steadfast mission to grow exposure for disability sports in the Netherlands and beyond.

Esther Vergeer is a 21-time major champion in singles and doubles, seven-time Paralympic gold medalist, and winner of 169 singles titles in her career. In 2023, she was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame. She is the tournament director of the ABN AMRO Open, Chef de Mission for Team Netherlands, and the founder of the Esther Vergeer Foundation, which provides young people with physical disabilities and chronic conditions the opportunity to exercise regularly, like any other child. The Foundation aims to strengthen self-confidence and self-reliance in participants through sport.

As the last true serve-and-volleyer to capture a singles Grand Slam, Aussie Pat Rafter brought uniqueness to the sport of tennis beyond just his playing style. In this episode, he and host Brett Haber leave few stones unturned, beginning with how he developed his playing style and modeling after legends Stefan Edberg and Boris Becker. Pat speaks the innate abilities needed to reach the top, and how players have changed from his generation to the present. He also takes listeners down memory lane, speaking to his Grand Slam memories, rivalries, and the difficulties of retirement.

Pat Rafter is a two-time US Open singles champion, Australian Open doubles champion and former world No. 1. In 1998, he became the first man in the Open Era to achieve the American Summer Slam: winning the Canadian ATP 1000, Cincinnati ATP 1000, and US Open in the same year. He was part of the winning Australian Davis Cup team in 1999, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2006.

Episode transcripts and more information can be found on the podcast homepage:  tennisfame.com/podcast

Few tennis legends sustained longevity in their careers like Australia's Ken Rosewall. During his 30-plus year career on the courts, he captured an astounding 147 singles titles, spanning some of the most turbulent times in the sport. In the TennisWorthy Podcast, Ken discusses his elite tactics, including his legendary backhand, with host Chris Bowers. He shares stories of his doubles partnership with countryman Lew Hoad, the pure accomplishment of winning Grand Slam titles, and straddling the professional and amateur circuits early in the Open Era.

As one of Australia's tennis golden age greats, Ken Rosewall won 18 Grand Slam titles (singles, doubles and mixed doubles) and 15 Pro Major singles titles spanning three decades. He was first ranked in the world's top 20 in 1952 and for the last time in 1977. Rosewall contributed to 4 Davis Cup titles for Australia, and was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame shortly after his career ended in 1980.

Episode transcripts and more information can be found on the podcast homepage:  tennisfame.com/podcast

The TennisWorthy Podcast is back for Season 2! The International Tennis Hall of Fame and host Chris Bowers bring a new set of enlightening interviews with legends and Hall of Famers for the new year. The podcast dives deep into the mindset of champions and uncovering the unique, special characteristics that define excellence on and off the court.

Four-time Grand Slam champion Jim Courier brings candid honesty, as always, to start off the season. With Chris, Jim reflects on his youth, competitiveness, and choice to focus on tennis as a junior in Florida. He gives insight into three legendary guideposts during his tennis career - coaches Harry Hopman, Nick Bollettieri, and Dr. Jim Loehr - and how their differing styles molded him. Jim also touches on his relationships with his Hall of Fame peers Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, and shares a bit on his immense talents outside of tennis.

Jim Courier is a two-time Australian Open champion, two-time Roland-Garros champion, former world number one and two-time Davis Cup winner from the 1990s. A member of a golden generation of American male champions and now a regular media personality on the tennis circuit, he was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 2005.

Episode transcripts and more information can be found on the podcast homepage:  tennisfame.com/podcast

It was Andre Agassi who in the early days of his relationship with Steffi Graf said, "You can always learn from a champion," but what can you learn? We've tended to end our podcast interviews with a question about what advice the legend would give both to tennis playing youngsters and to tennis parents. And there were a few themes that ran through the answers. Hear from the Hall of Famers and legends from Season 1 on what you can take from them onto the court, into your career, and beyond.

1:42 - Lleyton Hewitt

2:24 - David Hall

4:15 - Pam Shriver

5:41 - Stan Smith

6:54 - Ivan Lendl

8:17 - Mary Pierce

11:57 - John Newcombe

15:24 - Vijay Amritraj

Season 2 of the TennisWorthy Podcast begins on January 11, 2024. Listen to all of Season 1 and access episode transcripts at tennisfame.com/podcast.

The TennisWorthy Podcast revisits Season 1 ahead of Season 2's debut in January 2024, with 5 themed episodes featuring legends and Hall of Famers.

One of the great things about tennis is that you can lose yourself in it, but for that very reason, all involved have to remember that tennis doesn't exist in a vacuum. It can be a force for good, but only if it engages in the bigger world. Sports operate in the context of the wider world, whether that's as a force for good or to take a backseat when more important things happen. In this episode, Hall of Famers Stan Smith, Lleyton Hewitt, Pam Shriver, Vijay Amritraj and Mats Wilander share their experiences with their sport colliding with the wider world.

For more information on the TennisWorthy podcast and full episode transcriptions, visit tennisfame.com/podcast.