Clay Court Statistics Overview
Cliff Drysdale has an impressive clay court record of 103–45 across 148 matches (69.6% — strong). A win rate of that calibre over 148 matches is a reliable indicator of genuine quality on this surface. Claimed 2 titles on clay: Gstaad, Brussels.
At Grand Slam level (Roland Garros): Cliff Drysdale has struggled at Grand Slam level on clay: 2–4 (33.3%) in 6 matches. The best-of-five format and elite fields make this the toughest benchmark on this surface.
8 finals reached on clay — won 2, lost 6 (25% conversion) — capable of reaching finals consistently, with room to improve at the decisive moment. 17 semifinals. 27 quarterfinals.
vs. Top 10 on clay: 0–4 (0.0%, 4 matches). Top 10 opponents have represented a clear ceiling on clay; addressing that deficit is the single biggest lever for improving the overall record here.
By format on clay — best-of-five: 28–10 (73.7%); best-of-three: 75–35 (68.2%). Slightly better in five-set matches on clay — a positive sign for the Slams specifically.
Best season: 1968 — 12–2 (85.7%) from 14 matches. The best single-season display to date — a useful reference point as the clay record continues to develop.
Cliff Drysdale put together an impressive 12-match winning streak on clay, highlighting the ability to maintain high performance across multiple tournament rounds and events.
Cliff Drysdale Clay Court Record by Year
| Year | W | L | Win% | Titles | Finals | SF | QF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 1 | 1 | 50.0% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1977 | 1 | 2 | 33.3% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1975 | 9 | 5 | 64.3% | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 1974 | 8 | 3 | 72.7% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 1973 | 12 | 6 | 66.7% | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| 1972 | 13 | 6 | 68.4% | 0 | 1 | 4 | 4 |
| 1971 | 19 | 6 | 76.0% | 1 | 2 | 2 | 5 |
| 1970 | 9 | 5 | 64.3% | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| 1969 | 19 | 9 | 67.9% | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| 1968 | 12 | 2 | 85.7% | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 |
Recent Clay Court Matches
| Date | Result | Opponent | Tournament | Round | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1979-10-22 | Loss | (130) Mark Edmondson | Tokyo-1 | R32 | 6-3 6-4 |
| 1979-10-22 | Win | (114) John Marks | Tokyo-1 | R64 | 6-3 7-6 |
| 1977-08-31 | Loss | (63) Terry Moor | US Open | R128 | 7-6 6-2 |
| 1977-04-19 | Loss | (11) Adriano Panatta | Charlotte WCT | QF | 6-4 6-4 |
| 1977-04-19 | Win | (63) Billy Martin | Charlotte WCT | R16 | 4-6 6-1 6-4 |
| 1975-08-27 | Loss | (57) Ricardo Cano | US Open | R64 | 6-4 3-6 7-5 |
| 1975-08-27 | Win | (139) John Feaver | US Open | R128 | 6-4 6-4 |
| 1975-08-18 | Win | (82) Colin Dowdeswell | Boston | R64 | 6-3 6-3 |
| 1975-08-18 | Win | (21) Cliff Richey | Boston | R32 | 2-6 6-3 6-4 |
| 1975-08-11 | Loss | (113) Barry Phillips-Moore | Toronto-2 | R64 | 3-6 6-4 6-0 |
Cliff Drysdale
Matches — Clay