Cliff Drysdale, ESPN’s longest-tenured voice, has emotional US Open retirement sendoff

Cliff Drysdale, ESPN’s longest-tenured voice, has emotional US Open retirement sendoff

ESPN played a lengthy tribute to Cliff Drysdale in between US Open matches as the legendary broadcaster is set to retire at the conclusion of the Grand Slam.

US Open broadcaster fights back tears after emotional tribute live on TV

The US Open broadcaster and his colleagues were left in tears following an emotional tribute to mark his retirement.

Cliff Drysdale retires from ESPN after 46 years

Sometimes you see a retirement done right. ESPN paid tribute to Cliff Drysdale during Thursday’s US Open coverage as he wrapped up his final assignments for the network. After 46 years behind the microphone, he signed off on his own terms. Drysdale’s goodbye came less than a week after ESPN said farewell to another legendary broadcast figure in Lee Corso and both struck the perfect notes. “That was never a question for me,” he said. “ESPN, this …

Cliff Drysdale Bids Adieu To ESPN At The 2025 U.S. Open - And Why Was He The Only Pro Tennis Player To Wear A Glove? - World Tennis Magazine

By Randy Walker @TennisPublisher Cliff Drysdale announced his retirement from his amazing, long-time television broadcasting career with ESPN at the 2025 U.S. Open. The announcement came on Wednesday, September 3,exactly, 57 years to the day of his famous upset of Rod Laver in the fourth of the U.S. Open, perhaps the signature win over his career. As documented in the book “On This Day in Tennis History” Drysdale was described by the New York Ti…