The Mini-Break [Tennis Podcast]

Biggest storylines of the 2026 Homestretch ft. Ben Rothenberg

Wed, 16 Sep 2026

Bounces Author and No Challenges Remaining Host Ben Rothenberg joins Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin to breakdown the biggest WTA and ATP Tour storylines of the 2026 season's homestretch.

Episode Notes

WTA Finals Race (Alex WTA #1) - 8:10

How will things go in Indian Wells/Charlotte (Ben WTA #1) - 16:30

How much of Alcaraz/Sinner do we see (Ben ATP #1) - 27:00

Does anyone want to make the Men's Tour Finals (Alex ATP #1) - 35:10

Was the Qinwen US Open run real (Alex WTA #2) - 43:45

Will Gauff stay on track (Ben WTA #2) - 50:30

How will the Americans do in Davis/BJK Cups (Ben ATP #2) - 55:15

Do any of Jodar/Fonseca/Mensik/Tien/Michelsen/Blockx pop (Alex ATP #2) - 1:00:15

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ATP Top 10 Rankings (Post-US Open)

Wed, 16 Sep 2026

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin shares his post-US Open ATP Top 10 Rankings. He breaks down the difficulty of organizing #5-#10 in the rankings, offers his thoughts on the 2026 season of each of his Top 10 men to date, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

2026 Big Picture - 3:25

#1 Jannik Sinner - 9:30

#2 Carlos Alcaraz - 16:00

#3 Alex Zverev - 19:10

#4 Ben Shelton - 22:50

#5 Novak Djokovic - 28:50

#6 Arthur Fils - 33:55

#7 Frances Tiafoe - 38:45

#8 Rafa Jodar - 45:35

#9 Taylor Fritz - 50:25

#10 Tommy Paul + Honorable Mention - 55:25

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WTA Top 10 Rankings (Post-US Open)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin shares his post-US Open WTA Top 10 Rankings. He breaks down Rybakina's ascent to World #1, offers his thoughts on the 2026 season of each of his Top 10 women to date, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

#1 Elena Rybakina - 3:40

#2 Aryna Sabalenka - 10:27

#3 Coco Gauff - 16:50

#4 Mirra Andreeva - 23:00

#5 Jessica Pegula - 29:35

#6 Linda Noskova - 33:55

#7 Marta Kostyuk - 37:25

#8 Iga Swiatek - 40:40

#9 Elina Svitolina - 43:50

#10 Karolina Muchova + Honorable Mention - 46:20

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ATP Stock Up, Stock Down (post- US Open edition)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin plays a post-US Open ATP edition of "Stock up, Stock down". He breaks down the players who did the most to change the perception of themselves with their results in New York. Players covered include the American Men, the original #NextGenATP generation, Alexander Blockx, plus SO many more!!

Episode Notes

Stock Up: The Americans - 3:35

Stock Down: Taylor Fritz + Alex De Minaur - 16:05

Stock Down: Daniil Medvedev + Andrey Rublev + Casper Ruud - 22:05

Stock Up: Stefanos Tsitsipas + Karen Khachanov - 28:55

Stock Up: Alexander Blockx + Daniel Merida - 32:10

Stock Down: Players #5-#8 in the rankings - 38:25

Stock Up: Opportunity for the #NextGen2.0 - 40:20

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WTA Stock Up, Stock Down (Post-US Open)

Mon, 14 Sep 2026

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin plays a post-US Open WTA edition of "Stock up, Stock down". He breaks down the players who did the most to change the perception of themselves with their results in New York. Players covered include Linda Noskova, Zheng Qinwen, the U23 Crew, plus SO many more!!

Episode Notes

Stock Up: Linda Noskova - 4:10

Stock Down: Amanda Anisimova - 15:15

Stock Up: Qinwen Zheng - 22:25

Stock Up: The U23 crew - 28:10

Stock Down: Sabalenka/Pegula/Svitolina - 32:25

Stock Up: Kostyuk/Potapova - 39:30

Stock Down: Osaka/Keys - 42:50

Stock Up: The next five years - 47:10

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