The Mini-Break [Tennis Podcast]

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin offers his thoughts on this week's Sioux Falls Challenger results. He names his standout performers, shares his takeaways from his conversations on site, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

Dylan Dietrich - 5:55

Sebastian Dominko/Liam Draxl - 13:45

Other standout performers/takeaways - 20:40

Laurel Springs
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Wednesday's action from across the ATP and WTA Tours.

Episode Notes

Sioux Falls CH - 2:35

ATP Vienna - 23:00

ATP Basel - 28:50

WTA Tokyo - 32:40

WTA Guangzhou - 34:50

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin offers his thoughts from the grounds of this week's Sioux Falls Challenger event. He also breaks down last week's WTA and ATP title runs, previews the week ahead, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

Sioux Falls Challenger - 4:30

ITF Junior Finals - 35:30

WTA Ningbo/Osaka - 44:45

ATP Lyon/Almaty/Brussels - 48:00

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Friday's action from across the WTA and ATP Tours. He also offers his insights from broadcasting Semifinal Saturday of the World Tennis Tour Junior Finals, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

World Tennis Tour Junior Finals - 2:20

Pro Tour Update - 22:30

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Thursday's action from across the WTA and ATP Tours. He also offers his insights from broadcasting Day 3 of the World Tennis Tour Junior Finals, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

ITF Junior Finals - 2:20

WTA Ningbo - 23:20

WTA Osaka - 26:05

ATP Lyon - 27:30

ATP Brussels - 28:40

ATP Almaty - 29:50

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Wednesday's action from across the WTA and ATP Tours. He also offers his insights from broadcasting Day 2 of the World Tennis Tour Junior Finals, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

ITF Junior Finals - 2:05

WTA Ningbo - 17:45

WTA Osaka - 20:00

ATP Lyon - 22:15

ATP Brussels - 24:15

ATP Almaty - 25:20

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Tuesday's action from across the WTA and ATP Tours. He offers his thoughts on impressive showings from newcomers Kouame, Jones, Balshaw, and Stoiana. He also shares his reaction to Swiatek shutting things down for the remainder of 2026, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

Swiatek ends her 2026 season - 3:25

WTA Ningbo - 9:55

WTA Osaka - 15:10

ATP Lyon - 22:10

ATP Brussels - 29:30

ATP Almaty - 31:05

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps Championship matches in Wuhan and Shanghai. He also previews a LOADED week of action, breaking down the draws in Ningbo, Osaka, Brussels, Lyon, and Almaty.

Episode Notes

WTA Wuhan - 2:25

ATP Shanghai - 15:00

WTA Ningbo - 30:05

WTA Osaka - 32:55

ATP Brussels - 34:40

ATP Lyon - 35:40

ATP Almaty - 36:55

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Saturday's action on the WTA and ATP Tours. He offers his reaction to surprising Championship matchups in both Wuhan and Shanghai. He also previews Sunday's Championship battles, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Wuhan - 2:15

ATP Shanghai - 13:40

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 22:00

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Friday's action on the WTA and ATP Tours. He offers his reaction to the upsets of Svitolina and Shnaider in Wuhan, shares his takeaways from a couple of outstanding QF battles in Shanghai, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Wuhan - 4:10

ATP Shanghai - 21:50

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 32:50

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Monday Match Analysis Host Gill Gross joins Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin to draft the next first time Men's or Women's Slam Champion. The guys breakdown their top prospects to accomplish the feat, debate if any player is truly a "sure thing" to win a major, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

Mboko - 10:15
Qinwen - 14:30
Fils - 19:35
Shelton - 25:00
Kostyuk - 28:10
Jodar - 32:15
Pegula - 37:25
Fonseca - 40:20
Jovic - 43:20
Korneeva - 47:10
Mensik - 50:30
Blockx - 54:35
Draper - 58:05
Anisimova - 1:01:10
Tagger - 1:03:30
Muchova - 1:05:10

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Thursday's action on the WTA and ATP Tours. He offers his reaction to Shnaider's upset victory of Muchova. He also shares his other takeaways from the Round of 16 in Wuhan, previews Friday's QF action in Shanghai, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Wuhan - 2:40

ATP Shanghai - 16:25

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 22:05

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
Website: https://www.crackedracquets.com
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Wednesday's action on the WTA and ATP Tours. He offers his reaction to early upset losses for top seeds Sabalenka and Pegula in Wuhan. He also previews the ATP Shanghai quarterfinals, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Wuhan - 2:20

ATP Shanghai - 22:30

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 29:35

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down this week's WTA 1000-level event in Wuhan. He offers his thoughts on the draw, plus names which players have the most on the line this week. He also recaps Tuesday's ATP action in Beijing, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Wuhan - 2:45

ATP Shanghai - 21:55

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 31:00

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down a busy weekend across the WTA and ATP Tours. He offers his thoughts on Qinwen's return to Titletown in Beijing. He also shares his thoughts on a slew of Men's Upsets in Shanghai, checks in on the races to the WTA and ATP Tour Finals, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Beijing - 2:30

WTA Tour Finals Update - 17:05

ATP Shanghai - 22:05

ATP Tour Finals Update - 36:20

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 39:45

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Friday's action from across the WTA and ATP Tours. He offers his thoughts on sensational performances from Qinwen and Mertens in Beijing. He also names his standout performers from Friday's action in Shanghai, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Beijing - 3:10

ATP Shanghai - 19:25

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 32:30

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Thursday's action from across the WTA and ATP Tours. He offers his thoughts on sensational performances from Bartunkova and Andreeva in Beijing. He also breaks down the most impressive R1 victories in Shanghai, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Beijing - 2:20

ATP Shanghai - 20:40

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 26:25

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Wednesday's WTA action from Beijing. He offers his thoughts on a dominant display from Swiatek, shares his takeaways from a puzzling performance from Gauff, and previews Thursday's QF action. He also previews this weeks ATP 1000 in Shanghai, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

WTA Beijing - 5:10

ATP Shanghai Preview - 26:25

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 43:50

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down Tuesday's Championship action in Tokyo and Beijing. He offers his thoughts on what impressed him most in the performances of Djokovic and Alcaraz. He also shares his thoughts on yesterday's Women's R16 action in Beijing, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

ATP Tokyo - 4:45

ATP Beijing - 17:05

Sinner out for remainder of 2026 - 30:20

WTA Beijing - 36:25

WTA 125K + ATP Challengers - 44:40

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
Website: https://www.crackedracquets.com
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Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin breaks down a BUSY weekend of action on the WTA and ATP Tours. He shares his thoughts on a resurgent Novak Djokovic in Beijing. He also offers his takeaways from early Rybakina/Sabalenka losses, names which women have impressed most in Beijing, plus SO much more!!

Episode Notes

ATP Beijing - 2:30

WTA Beijing - 21:50

ATP Tokyo - 38:45

WTA 125Ks + ATP Challengers - 44:55

Laurel Springs
Ranked among thebest online private schools in the United States, Laurel Springs stands out when it comes to support, personalization, community, and college prep. They give their K-12 students the resources, guidance, and learning opportunities they need at each grade level to reach their full potential.

Find Cracked Racquets
Website: https://www.crackedracquets.com
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