After the all-killer draws in Washington, the first two days of Canada main draws were brutal. With no seeds in action it basically just feels like Qualies Phase 2. The expanded 1000s can’t contract soon enough.
Ben Rothenberg
@benrothenberg.bsky.social
Please do check out my tennis writing, BOUNCES, at benrothenberg.com
Hearing (unofficially) that play is going to be postponed until tomorrow morning.
Ben Rothenberg@benrothenberg.bsky.social · 3d agoAbout eight hours of rain in Washington now…they’re still holding out hope for tonight, for now, but it’s been an exhausting day for all involved.
About eight hours of rain in Washington now…they’re still holding out hope for tonight, for now, but it’s been an exhausting day for all involved.
Not before 5 pm for the resumption of Pegula-Eala. My curiosity now is if they'd move the men to the secondary court.
Doing a rain delay Q&A over on Insta, come ask anything!! www.instagram.com/stories/benr...
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New on Bounces: Chatting with Lorenzo Musetti about injuries, “daddy duties,” and Jannik Sinner’s controversial decision to withdraw from Montreal. Read: www.benrothenberg.com/p/lorenzo-mu...
Lorenzo Musetti Is Trying to Break the Curse
Interviewing the Italian on injuries, fatherhood, and Jannik Sinner.
benrothenberg.com
An interview with Alexandra Eala on topics of fame, family finances, and Filipino identity. "At the end of the day, the ball doesn’t know who your parents are. The ball doesn’t know how much money you have, right?" Free to read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/alexandra-...
Alexandra Eala on Her Fame, Family Money, and Filipino Identity
An interview with the Filipina sensation on navigating the ups and downs of sudden superstardom.
benrothenberg.com
Must say the Terence Atmane spread in the latest @the2ndserve.bsky.social Open Tennis magazine is cool as heck cc @fortydeucetwits.bsky.social
I asked Mark Ein, the chairman of the Mubadala DC Open, whether he spoke w/Serena Williams about taking a wild card to DC. Indeed he did. "If she hadn't been hurt, I think there's a high chance she would have come, at least played doubles," he told me.
Low-key huge win for Alex de Minaur, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas (against whom he was 1-12!) in the first round of Washington. Next faces young Aussie Cruz Hewitt, whom he’s known for a very long time. (Cruz was practicing today with his dad, Lleyton.) www.instagram.com/reel/DbYr2nn...
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Martin Damm, one of my favorite interviewees during Wimbledon, is into a third set in Washington with Ben Shelton... www.benrothenberg.com/p/martin-dam...
The Growing Pains of Growing up in Tennis
An interview with Martin Damm Jr., who went from Wimbledon daycare to the Wimbledon main draw.
benrothenberg.com
I'd rarely ever heard a player speak so bleakly after defeats as Alex de Minaur did this summer, so I was curious to ask him why he let himself get so dark so publicly. Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/alex-de-mi...
Alex de Minaur Speaks to His Demons
After taking losses hard—and talking in dark ways—the Australian star reflected on how he's processed defeats.
benrothenberg.com
Wasn't sure how much to read into his qualifying run here, since both of his wins came via opponent injuries, but crikey that's a big win for 17-yr-old Cruz Hewitt to beat Marcos Giron in straight sets to reach R2 of ATP-WTA 500 Washington. Faces winner of De Minaur-Tsitsipas.
Interviewed Daria Kasatkina about her big, bold Greek wedding, a brave story of love in exile. “This is what freedom is about: you can do whatever you want without thinking about what others will think. And that’s beautiful, honestly.” Free at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/daria-kasa...
Daria Kasatkina on a Love That Means Something
An interview with the newlywed about her big, bold Greek wedding to longtime girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako.
benrothenberg.com
Frustrating loss for Frances Tiafoe and his Washington tournament, losing in three to Terence Atmane (whom he was 3-0 against this year) in the first round. Thought this could’ve been his year here, given his strong 2026 thus far.
Interviewed Daria Kasatkina about her big, bold Greek wedding, a brave story of love in exile. “This is what freedom is about: you can do whatever you want without thinking about what others will think. And that’s beautiful, honestly.” Free at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/daria-kasa...
Daria Kasatkina on a Love That Means Something
An interview with the newlywed about her big, bold Greek wedding to longtime girlfriend Natalia Zabiiako.
benrothenberg.com
Jack Draper has withdrawn from the ATP-WTA 500 Washington with a left arm injury. He’d been practicing here and looking good, so that’s a big blow for him. It’s tough for the tournament, too, since they’d had lots of other high-profile wild card requests for that spot.
New at Bounces: An interview with Kei Nishikori in which I tried my best to convince him that his career was actually really good and he wasn't always so sure. Read: www.benrothenberg.com/p/kei-nishik...
Kei Nishikori's Exit Interview
A wide-ranging interview with the Japanese superstar in his final year on tour.
benrothenberg.com
Emma Navarro has already hit 16 aces through just eight service games today in Washington. You can probably guess who her opponent is.
I don’t know why this post is going zombie viral on here again today, but to be clear, this was a story from last year’s US Open…
SirFox@sirfox.bsky.social · last wk.Every person attending this event is obligated to protest ad loudly as possible, record it on their phones, and post it all online. Any employee of a broadcaster complying with this should be grilled at every public appearance.
That Jannik Sinner withdrew from Montreal to end his bid for a historic sweep of the Master 1000s is a huge bummer and should be ringing LOUD alarms for the ATP. If his chance at history didn't make ATP events matter to superstars, what could? Read: www.benrothenberg.com/p/jannik-sin...
Jannik Sinner Declines His Shot at History
By withdrawing from Montreal, Sinner ended his ATP 1000s sweep bid. That should startle the ATP.
benrothenberg.com
Jannik Sinner pulling out of ATP 1000 Montreal is really frustrating news for men’s tennis. Sinner had a once-in-a-lifetime plausible chance to sweep all nine Masters 1000s in a year, already being more than halfway there. A Calendar Grandmaster! For him to not post up is a huge blow to the ATP.
Today at Bounces: An interview with Mark Ein, owner of ATP-WTA 500 Washington on topics around his tournament and the wider tour. Read here: www.benrothenberg.com/p/mubadala-d...
Capital Improvements, with Mark Ein
An interview with the Mubadala DC Open owner on marketing, doubles, Saudi offers, and more.
benrothenberg.com
Update: the WTA sent a statement to Bounces about this new policy and their reasons behind it, which I have added to the article.
Ben Rothenberg@benrothenberg.bsky.social · 2w agoBreaking news story at Bounces: Following cultural momentum around anti-trans pushes in sports, the WTA has enacted a new policy that will require *all* players to undergo genetic sex testing in order to continue playing on WTA Tour. Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/wta-requir...
Update: Because I want people to understand this developing story as fully as possible, I've removed the paywall from this article, so all can read the whole in-depth thing in full, including the embedded PDF document of the WTA's policy document. Subscriptions still appreciated!
Ben Rothenberg@benrothenberg.bsky.social · 2w agoBreaking news story at Bounces: Following cultural momentum around anti-trans pushes in sports, the WTA has enacted a new policy that will require *all* players to undergo genetic sex testing in order to continue playing on WTA Tour. Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/wta-requir...
Breaking news story at Bounces: Following cultural momentum around anti-trans pushes in sports, the WTA has enacted a new policy that will require *all* players to undergo genetic sex testing in order to continue playing on WTA Tour. Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/wta-requir...
Breaking: WTA to Require Genetic Sex Testing for All Players
Following cultural tides, the women's tennis tour is mandating a strict new eligibility requirement.
benrothenberg.com
In his proof of life photo, Mitch McConnell is holding a newspaper article about Linda Noskova winning Wimbledon. #TennisIsAlive #AndMaybeMitchMcConnellIsToo
Frank King 🇺🇸 🇾🇪 🇪🇺 🇮🇪 🏴🇨🇭@frankpking.bsky.social · 3w agoAn uncropped version of the photo shows McConnell holding a newspaper:
