Serving Aces with Alexandra Stevenson

In Serving Aces, episode 6, Alexandra Stevenson and Hugues Laverdiere introduce their first guest, journalist Joel Drucker.  Drucker has been writing about sports, pop culture, and business for 35 years.  He was named Historian at Large by the Tennis Hall Of Fame because of his knowledge and passion for the game of tennis.  Stevenson leads the discussion into three parts from the iconic 70s...

Part One, Christ Evert and Martina Navratilova and their 80 match rivalry from 1972 to 1988.  Part Two, the founding of the ATP and the crossover of Lamar Hunt's WCT, the handsome eight - and more men's tennis including the grand Cliff Drysdale.  Part three, Rock and Roll tennis with Jimmy Connors, the first rock tennis star in the 1970s.  Connors brought a boxer's mentality to his "Friday Night at the Fights" matches.  Drucker wrote a book, "Jimmy Connors Saved My Life: A Personal Biography."  Drucker talks about why Connors was so important to him as a 12 year old in the 70s - and later in his reporter life.

Stevenson continues her weekly fantasy coaches and players picks.  Laverdiere and Drucker join in with their male and female picks and the coaches who will help them in the clay season.

Stevenson is a storyteller.  Though she was a 1980s baby - she has memories and meetings with many of the 1970s legends.  Guest Drucker and co-host Laverdiere join in with their own memories.

Quote of the Podcast:  "I never lost a tennis match. I just ran out of time."  Jimmy Connors.