The Mini-Break [Tennis Podcast]

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps Day 9 of the 2026 Australian Open. He offers his thoughts on sensational performances from Pegula, Shelton, and Musetti. He also previews what promises to be an exceptional Quarterfinal Round of action at the year's first major, 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 Bookmarks

Pegula/Keys - 5:45

Shelton/Ruud - 13:30

Musetti/Fritz - 19:30

Anisimova/Xin Yu - 25:50

Rybakina + Sinner + Swiatek all cruise - 31:06

Stats as QFs - 37:13

Women's QF Preview - 44:35

Men's QF Preview - 53:12

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Laurel Springs

Ranked among the best 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 recaps Days 6, 7, and 8 at the 2026 Australian Open. He offers his thoughts on the continued ascent of the California kids (Tien, Jovic). He also shares his takes on dramatic victories for Sinner and Gauff, the quietly cruising Svitolina and De Minaur, the most intriguing storylines of Week Two, 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 Bookmarks

Biggest Headlines - 6:05

• The California Kids (Jovic, Tien): 8:30


• Top seeds survive (Sinner, Gauff): 30:00


• Quietly cruising (Svitolina, De Minaur): 44:50

Straight sets victories dominate Day 8 - 53:53

Storylines to monitor moving forward - 1:00:40

_____

Laurel Springs

Ranked among the best 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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/crackedracquets

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crackedracquets

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/crackedracquets

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/crackedracquets

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps Day 5 of the 2026 Australian Open. He offers his thoughts on a fantastic day for the Men's elder statesmen (Wawrinka, Cilic, Djokovic). He also examines a dramatic day of deciding set tennis for the women, shares his takeaways on breakout performances from Quinn and Spizzirri, previews a FANTASTIC 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 some FREE CR gear!!

Episode Bookmarks

Biggest Storylines - 10:30

• The Old Men have a day: 11:20


• Dramatic deciding set tennis: 24:25


• EQ + Spizz: 44:00

Upsets - 54:08

Going the Distance - 1:01:25

Other Women's Results - 1:02:20

Other Men's Results - 1:05:20

American Update - 1:11:00

Players w/College Ties Update - 1:13:00

Tennis Abstract forecast entering R3/Day 6 Preview - 1:14:55

_____

Laurel Springs

Ranked among the best 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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/crackedracquets

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crackedracquets

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/crackedracquets

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/crackedracquets

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps Day 4 of the 2026 Australian Open. He breaks down a perfect day of results for the Men's Singles Seeds. He also offers his thoughts on another tremendous day for the ascending WTA Teenage Stars, debates the biggest threat to a Sabalenka/Gauff SF remaining in the draw, previews a FANTASTIC Day 5 schedule, 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 Bookmarks

Biggest Storylines - 5:40

• All the Men's Seeds advance to R3: 7:50


• WTA Teenagers in age only: 29:15


• Who's the biggest threat to a Sabalenka/Gauff SF: 38:40

Upsets - 48:07

Going the Distance - 51:45

Other Women's Results - 55:17

Other Men's Results - 58:00

American Update - 1:04:40

Players w/College Ties Update - 1:07:40

Day 5 Preview - 1:08:40

_____

Laurel Springs

Ranked among the best 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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/crackedracquets

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crackedracquets

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/crackedracquets

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/crackedracquets

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cracked Racquets Editor-in-Chief Alex Gruskin recaps Day 3 of the 2026 Australian Open. He reflects upon a relatively simple opening round for many of the tournament's top title contenders. He also breaks down a marvelous R1 of results for men with college tennis ties, looks at those players continuing to trend upwards, previews Day 4's action, 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 Bookmarks

Biggest Storylines - 6:00

• Title Contenders cruise through R1: 6:25


• Men w/College Tennis Ties: 22:20


• Continuing to trend up: 37:53

Upsets - 46:24

Going the Distance - 48:25

Other Women's Results - 51:43

Other Men's Results - 53:05

American Update - 54:35

Players w/College Ties Update - 58:20

Forecast heading into R2/Day 4 Preview - 59:25

_____

Laurel Springs

Ranked among the best 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

Instagram: https://instagram.com/crackedracquets

Twitter: https://twitter.com/crackedracquets

Facebook: https://Facebook.com/crackedracquets

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/crackedracquets

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.