How this football player fell head over heels for tennis

Tennis casts a large net because it really is for everyone. There’s no expiration date to start your tennis journey, and the game can sink its claws in you when you least expect it. Look no further than Dustin Fox.

Fox's prowess on the football field took him to the highest levels of his game. He was a four-year starter at Ohio State and had a brief career in the National Football League. He transitioned into sports media and has thrived, with his most notable role being the afternoon drive host at WKRK 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland, Ohio.

Fox discovered tennis simply as another means to expand his physical fitness. The spark ignited, and the man who made his name on the gridiron has a new passion in life. Fox is hooked on tennis, both playing and watching the sport whenever there is a few hours to spare.

He recently joined the Inside-In Podcast to discuss how his new favorite sport consumes him, and what he enjoys most about the pro players who inspire his own game.

Fox's voyage into the tennis sphere began mainly out of curiosity, as the former pro athlete was looking for a new hobby to feed his competitive itch. Six years ago, he went with a friend to hit a few balls, with little experience or guidance. But the process of working on his game appealed to Fox, as did the fun he had in the tennis community.

"Tennis to me is something that has been a passion, and I think you have to find things in life that you are passionate about and pursue them," Fox explained. "I know that I'm never going to be a pro tennis player, and that's OK. Because the sport itself is great, and it's made for people of all ages and all levels."

As his commitment to playing the sport intensified, so did Fox’s thirst to consume it as a fan. He watches as much tennis as anyone, always enthralled and inspired by the best the pro game has to offer. He admires the wily veterans like Stan Wawrinka and Gael Monfils, while also appreciating the style and flair of players such as Benoit Paire and Corentin Moutet.

"I know that I'm never going to be a pro tennis player, and that's OK. Because the sport itself is great, and it's made for people of all ages and all levels." - Dustin Fox

Fox is also constantly acknowledging the parallels that exist between tennis and his other endeavors in the sporting world. You can look no further than his 2002 Ohio State team that won a national championship in improbable fashion. They were riding the wave throughout a dream season, which the sportscaster points out is very similar to that of Danielle Collins’ final year on the WTA.

“She’s doing it on her terms and it’s pretty cool to see,” Fox stated. “When I play tennis, it’s not necessarily the opponent across from you, it’s more so battling yourself. And when you can eliminate that, or at least quiet it, then you can have some results.”

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In 2023 Fox attended the US Open for the first time and became a catalyst in a viral moment for the ages. Former champion and eventual finalist of that year’s event Daniil Medvedev (who Fox professed he was, and is, a huge fan of), was playing Sebastian Baez in round three, and Fox decided to back the underdog in the night match. Medvedev triumphed in straight sets, but the third had several momentum swings that saw the Argentine ignite the crowd.

In his post-match interview, Medvedev referenced one fan in particular that kept screaming “Vamos!” repeatedly, even pointing out how difficult it had to be for the fan's partner to sleep at night.

That man was none other than Fox, who emerged from his first US Open with quite the story to tell.

“Every time Baez would hit a winner, or a win a point that was a good point, I was yelling 'Vamos!' I yelled 'Vamos!' all the time,” Fox recalled, smiling. “I got back to the hotel, and I saw the clip on Sportscenter or wherever and was like, 'That was me!'"

Another guest on this podcast recently said that tennis was having a moment in 2024, and Fox is yet another example of how far this game has come.

A former pro football player with no background in the sport picked it up as an adult, and it has quickly become his chief hobby in life. In this episode you will also hear Fox discuss his own style of play (he loves coming to the net); his appreciation for grass-court action; and the pride he has in his daughter, who is embarking on her own high school tennis career.

Fox had a high profile, a loyal fan base, and an endless number of activities in which he could participate. He chose tennis, and it remains one of his best decisions.