Autograph Corner: Joel Drucker

Joel Drucker has been an important part of the tennis landscape for decades. He is a prominent tennis journalist and historian and has authored numerous articles on the sport for leading tennis publications. He has worked extensively with The Tennis Channel covering the Majors.

Drucker’s tennis journey began in Los Angeles. “I lived in Los Angeles from ages 10 to 18 – from 1970 to ‘78. This coincided with the tennis boom.  I am a child of those years when tennis went Technicolor: the arrival of yellow balls, increasing amounts of tennis on TV, colorful clothes. I played frequently, attended and worked at Tony Trabert Tennis Camp and was exposed to tons of great tennis right away.” 

Drucker ultimately developed into a top tennis journalist and historian. “In the spring of 1982, just before graduating college with a degree in history, I had the chance to write for Inside Tennis, a prominent tennis magazine. I hadn’t planned to write about tennis, but swiftly, I saw that we were meant for each other.”

In 2016 he was named Historian-At-Large by the International Tennis Hall of Fame. He provides extensive research to the International Tennis Hall of Fame including for the TennisWorthy Podcast, hosted by Patrick McEnroe. Drucker’s support of the International Tennis Hall of Fame is driven by their shared mission to preserve tennis history. Drucker cited the author William Faulkner: “It’s all now you see,” wrote Faulkner.  “Yesterday won’t be over until tomorrow and tomorrow began ten thousand years ago.” These particular Faulkner quotes resonate greatly with Drucker. “Tennis history to me is a carousel of memories, moments, people, and places. Working with the International Tennis Hall of Fame on various research and writing projects is a wonderful way to keep the circle of time moving ceaselessly.”

Drucker is particularly proud of an article that he wrote called “Fingerprints.” “Fingerprints” was a story I came to circuitously.  As I read a book of essaysby a poet, Kim Adonnizio, I learned that her mother was Hall of Famer Pauline Betz.  I got to know Kim and for Racquet Magazine wrote a twin profile about the connections between the life of a poet and the life of a tennis champion.”

Drucker is the author of the book, Jimmy Connors Saved My Life. “I had the idea for a Connors book when I was 22.  It came out when I was 44. Through the years of my early youth, on into adulthood, understanding this dynamic legend served as an avatar for me grasping more about the sport and myself. What more can one ask from a subject?”

Drucker has been working on another tennis book. “I’ve collaborated with Hall of Famer Charlie Pasarell on his autobiography. Titled Serving First, it’s due out in the spring of ’26.  I relish the chance to work on big projects like this -- the five-setters of tennis journalism.”

One of Drucker’s latest ventures is the informative tennis website,  tennisplayer.net. “Working for tennisplayer.net is an incredible opportunity. The publication’s founder, the late John Yandell, was a visionary when it came to understanding what makes various strokes truly effective and how they should best be taught.  My mission is to build on John’s distinct legacy and continue to bring compelling content to our readers so that players can learn, compete, and improve as effectively as possible.”

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Written by Adam Ross, a contributing writer for Florida Tennis, Volunteer for the USTA Florida and the TCA/Tennis Collectors of America.