The Mini-Break [Tennis Podcast]

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin previews the upcoming Championship Weekend in Madrid. He offers his thoughts on the prospects of all four Women's Semifinalists to bring home the title. He also compares the week's of Rafa Jodar and Alexander Blockx, marvels at the continued excellence of Arthur Fils, shares an update on this week's WTA 125K and ATP Challenger Events, plus SO much more...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps a busy Tuesday in Madrid. He offers his thoughts on Hailey Baptiste's remarkable three-set upset over World #1 Aryna Sabalenka. He also looks at another big day of results for the 2025 NextGenATP Class, previews a fascinating set of Men's Singles Quarterfinals, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes Baptiste upsets Sabalenka - 7:30 Both Ruud and Tsit...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin offers his thoughts on the first week of action in Madrid. He breaks down a wave of early women's upsets, plus a massive week for the 2025 NextGenATP class. He also names his standout performers from the event thus far, previews the Week Two action, and SO much more!! Episode Notes Swiatek, Pegula, Gauff, Rybakina stumble - 7:15 More signature victorie...

Tennis.com Lead Editor David Kane joins Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin to discuss the biggest questions coming out of the first four months of the 2026 WTA Season. They offer their thoughts on the Andreeva/Mboko debate, break down the biggest threat to Sabalenka on clay, share their most surprising result of 2026, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes Mirra Andreeva vs. Victoria Mboko - 6:45 Better Run:...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin previews the biggest storylines heading into the Madrid Masters Event. He breaks down all four quarters of the Men's and Women's Singles Draws, names the players with the most on the line at this event, shares his predictions, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes Alcaraz out for the clay court season - 7:00 ATP Madrid Storylines - 17:00 Sinner Quarter - 2...

Monday Match Analysis Host and Tennis Channel Contributor Gill Gross joins Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin to discuss the biggest questions coming out of the first four months of the 2026 ATP Season. They offer their thoughts on the "Who's next" argument, laying out the cases for Fils, Fonseca, Tien, Mensik, and Jodar. They also talk #4 player, most likely to get back to the Tour Finals, pl...

No Challenges Remaining Host and Bounces author Ben Rothenberg joins Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin to breakdown all things American Tennis in 2026. They offer their thoughts on who currently holds the mantel of Top American, discuss the biggest moments in American Tennis this season, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes Who is the best American Woman? - 6:30 The Case for Pegula - 7:30 The Case for Gau...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin offers his thoughts on an on-script Thursday of results across the action in Stuttgart, Barcelona, Munich, and Rouen. Episode Notes WTA Stuttgart - 8:25 ATP Barcelona - 17:40 ATP Munich - 21:50 WTA Rouen - 24:00 Laurel Springs Ranked among the  best online private schools in the United States , Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, person...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down a LOADED week of clay court action on the Pro Tour. He previews the draws in Stuttgart, Barcelona, Munich, and Rouen. He also identifies those players with the most at stake this week, shares his predictions, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes WTA Stuttgart - 9:10 ATP Barcelona - 25:10 ATP Munich - 34:50 WTA Rouen - 39:00 WTA 125K + ATP Chal...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps last weekend's Championship action in Monte Carlo and Linz. He breaks down another pendulum swing in the Sinner/Alcaraz story, plus looks at a resurgent Andreeva title run. He then quickly previews this week's action in Stuttgart, Rouen, Barcelona, and Munich. Episode Notes Sinner takes home Monte Carlo crown - 7:30 Other Monte Carlo takeaways -...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down a busy Wednesday in the pro tennis world. He offers his thoughts on the waive of early upsets (Musetti, Medvedev, Rublev, Cobolli) in Monte Carlo. He also offers his thoughts on a strong start for Andreeva in Linz, gives an update on this week's WTA 125K and ATP Challenger action, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes So many upsets in Monte Ca...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin previews week two of the 2026 Clay Court season. He breaks down each quarter of the draw at this week's ATP 1000 level event in Monte Carlo. He also offers his thoughts on the WTA action in Linz and Madrid, peaks in on the week's six (!!) ATP Challenger events, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes Monte Carlo Preview - 4:40 Alcaraz Quarter - 17:10 Musetti...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps the first week of the 2026 Clay Court season. He marvels at a maiden Tour-Level title run for Rafa Jodar. He also offers his thoughts on Pegula's defense of her title in Charleston, a dramatic Houston Final, the biggest winners of the week, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes ATP Marrakech - 5:45 WTA Charleston - 23:00 ATP Houston - 36:50 ATP Buch...

Penn Men's Tennis Head Coach Rich Bonfiglio joins the show to breakdown his team's success in the 2026 season. He breaks down the team's performance in a dramatic 4-3 victory over Princeton, discusses what has clicked so well for his program in Year 4 on the job, offers his thoughts on what makes Ivy League Tennis special, plus SO much more!! You can watch the full episode on YouTube by clicking h...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin offers his ATP Top 10 rankings after the first three months of the 2026 season. He breaks down the Top 10 into tiers of contenders, shares his expectations for each player heading into the clay court season, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes Reflecting on the first three months - 5:50 Tier 1 - 17:35 Carlos Alcaraz Jannik Sinner Tier 2 - 26:25 3. Novak...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin offers his WTA Top 10 rankings after the first three months of the 2026 season. He breaks down the Top 10 into tiers of contenders, shares his expectations for each player heading into the clay court season, plus SO much more!! Episode Notes Reflecting on 2026's first-third - 7:30 Tier 1 - 20:40 Aryna Sabalenka - 21:26 Elena Rybakina - 26:30 Tier 2 - 3...

Junior Tennis Champions Center CEO Martin Blackman joins Editor-in-Chief Alex  Gruskin  to discuss how players within the JTCC development program continue to benefit from the Laurel Springs School. He also shares his thoughts on the various ways a tennis program can best ingrain itself within a community, and why returning to the JTCC was the right opportunity for him. Laurel Springs Partnerships...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps the front-half of Championship Weekend at the Miami Open. He offers his thoughts on a Sabalenka Sunshine Swing sweep, breaks down two dominant serving performances from Lehecka and Sinner, previews Sunday's Men's Singles Final, plus SO much more!! Don’t forget to give a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your twitter/in...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps Thursday's Miami Open action. He offers some context to the remarkable 2.5 year run of Aryna Sabalenka, breaks down dominant performances from Gauff, Sinner, and Zverev, plus SO much more!! Don’t forget to give a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your twitter/instagram handle to the review for a chance to win some FREE...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps the first six Quarterfinal matches at the Miami Open. He offers his thoughts on which Women's Semifinalist has impressed most in Miami. He then looks at a resurgent Arthur Fils, shares his take on the steady success of Jiri Lehecka, previews the upcoming Championship Weekend action, plus SO much more!! Don’t forget to give a 5 star review on you...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin shares his observations from Day 7 of the Miami Open. He offers his thoughts on another Mboko victory over Andreeva, a fantastic day for the Americans, plus SO much more!! Don’t forget to give a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your twitter/instagram handle to the review for a chance to win some FREE CR gear!! Episode Bookma...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin shares his observations from Day 6 of the Miami Open. He offers his thoughts on Korda's upset victory over Alcaraz, Jessica Pegula's case for the #3 position, plus SO much more!! Don’t forget to give a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your twitter/instagram handle to the review for a chance to win some FREE CR gear!! Episode...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin shares his observations from Day 5 of the Miami Open. He offers his thoughts on the plethora of early round Men's upsets, breaks down an "as expected" day for the women, previews Day 6, plus SO much more!! Don’t forget to give a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your twitter/instagram handle to the review for a chance to win...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin shares his observations from the first four days of play at the Miami Open. He offers his thoughts on another stunning Swiatek loss, breaks down a rare HOT start for teenagers in the Men's Draw, plus SO much more!! Don’t forget to give a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your twitter/instagram handle to the review for a chanc...

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief offers his final thoughts on the Indian Wells Men's Singles Event. He breaks down a FANTASTIC final between Sinner and Medvedev. He then previews the Miami Open Men's Singles Draw, plus SO much more!! Don’t forget to give a 5 star review on your favorite podcast app! In addition, add your twitter/instagram handle to the review for a chance to win some FREE CR gear!...