Ben Rothenberg
@benrothenberg.bsky.social
Please do check out my tennis writing, BOUNCES, at benrothenberg.com
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Now Official: Serena Williams to Gain Reinstatement
Breaking: The 23-time major champion will be eligible to return before the end of the month.
www.benrothenberg.com
Breaking news at Bounces:
Serena Williams is going to gain reinstatement to tennis before the end of this month, when she will have completed her six months back in the tennis testing pool.
The Serena comeback is now officially official.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/serena-wil...
Serena Williams is going to gain reinstatement to tennis before the end of this month, when she will have completed her six months back in the tennis testing pool.
The Serena comeback is now officially official.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/serena-wil...
The Bounces Australian Open notebook column will finally be out tomorrow (Friday) morning, I say here just to hold myself accountable for finally getting this overflowing opus finished. 🙏
February 12, 2026 at 7:45 PM
The Bounces Australian Open notebook column will finally be out tomorrow (Friday) morning, I say here just to hold myself accountable for finally getting this overflowing opus finished. 🙏
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
Contrast of Forms, by Fernand Léger, 1913, (rotated) 📸 by Mike Segar
February 12, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Contrast of Forms, by Fernand Léger, 1913, (rotated) 📸 by Mike Segar
WTA #52 Maria Sakkari gets her best win a long time, beating three-time WTA 1000 Doha champ Iga Swiatek 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the quarterfinals.
That volley miss on match point by Swiatek will sting, oof.
11th semifinal for Maria Sakkari at the WTA 1000 level, which Is pretty heckin’ great.
That volley miss on match point by Swiatek will sting, oof.
11th semifinal for Maria Sakkari at the WTA 1000 level, which Is pretty heckin’ great.
February 12, 2026 at 4:42 PM
WTA #52 Maria Sakkari gets her best win a long time, beating three-time WTA 1000 Doha champ Iga Swiatek 2-6, 6-4, 7-5 in the quarterfinals.
That volley miss on match point by Swiatek will sting, oof.
11th semifinal for Maria Sakkari at the WTA 1000 level, which Is pretty heckin’ great.
That volley miss on match point by Swiatek will sting, oof.
11th semifinal for Maria Sakkari at the WTA 1000 level, which Is pretty heckin’ great.
I had a section in my Naomi Osaka manuscript about Eileen Gu, cut for length, in the section on how switching away from American nationality has become super common across sports.
People get very, very weird about Gu, but what she did is deeply normal (and lucrative).
People get very, very weird about Gu, but what she did is deeply normal (and lucrative).
February 10, 2026 at 4:13 PM
I had a section in my Naomi Osaka manuscript about Eileen Gu, cut for length, in the section on how switching away from American nationality has become super common across sports.
People get very, very weird about Gu, but what she did is deeply normal (and lucrative).
People get very, very weird about Gu, but what she did is deeply normal (and lucrative).
Truly bizarre shit in an otherwise cozy broadcast.
Putting heart monitors on Olympian family members for TV is fucking weird
February 10, 2026 at 12:57 AM
Truly bizarre shit in an otherwise cozy broadcast.
Breaking news at Bounces:
Serena Williams is going to gain reinstatement to tennis before the end of this month, when she will have completed her six months back in the tennis testing pool.
The Serena comeback is now officially official.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/serena-wil...
Serena Williams is going to gain reinstatement to tennis before the end of this month, when she will have completed her six months back in the tennis testing pool.
The Serena comeback is now officially official.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/serena-wil...
Now Official: Serena Williams to Gain Reinstatement
Breaking: The 23-time major champion will be eligible to return before the end of the month.
www.benrothenberg.com
February 9, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Breaking news at Bounces:
Serena Williams is going to gain reinstatement to tennis before the end of this month, when she will have completed her six months back in the tennis testing pool.
The Serena comeback is now officially official.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/serena-wil...
Serena Williams is going to gain reinstatement to tennis before the end of this month, when she will have completed her six months back in the tennis testing pool.
The Serena comeback is now officially official.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/serena-wil...
Zheng Qinwen just hit 20 aces in her comeback match, a win at WTA 1000 Doha.
Yes, she was playing Sofia Kenin.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/aces-most-...
Yes, she was playing Sofia Kenin.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/aces-most-...
She Can't Touch This
When it comes to aces, one player proves that it can be more about the returning than the serving.
www.benrothenberg.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Zheng Qinwen just hit 20 aces in her comeback match, a win at WTA 1000 Doha.
Yes, she was playing Sofia Kenin.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/aces-most-...
Yes, she was playing Sofia Kenin.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/aces-most-...
Very sad to hear of the shocking passing of Mark Hodgkinson, who was just 46.
The number of tennis writers we've lost at far-too-young ages in recent years is truly awful.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/8d019c7...
The number of tennis writers we've lost at far-too-young ages in recent years is truly awful.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/8d019c7...
Mark Hodgkinson, much-loved Telegraph tennis correspondent and author, dies aged 46
Writer who produced a bestselling Andy Murray biography and wrote books on Djokovic and Alcaraz is remembered fondly by his peers
www.telegraph.co.uk
February 8, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Very sad to hear of the shocking passing of Mark Hodgkinson, who was just 46.
The number of tennis writers we've lost at far-too-young ages in recent years is truly awful.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/8d019c7...
The number of tennis writers we've lost at far-too-young ages in recent years is truly awful.
www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/8d019c7...
White Vertigo, the amazing documentary on the first Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics in 1956, is free to watch on the Olympics website…heartily recommend.
www.olympics.com/en/original-...
www.olympics.com/en/original-...
Cortina d'Ampezzo 1956 Official Film | White Vertigo
The first Olympic Games held in Italy marked the superb skiing achievements of Toni Sailer of Austria, who won three gold medals at just twenty years of age. Ferroni, an accomplished director of pepl...
www.olympics.com
February 7, 2026 at 8:38 PM
White Vertigo, the amazing documentary on the first Cortina d’Ampezzo Olympics in 1956, is free to watch on the Olympics website…heartily recommend.
www.olympics.com/en/original-...
www.olympics.com/en/original-...
More news on the looming Serena comeback:
She recently practiced with a top-100 WTA player, Alycia Parks.
“She is in great shape, so I think she would kill it on tour,” Parks said of Serena.
www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-new...
She recently practiced with a top-100 WTA player, Alycia Parks.
“She is in great shape, so I think she would kill it on tour,” Parks said of Serena.
www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-new...
Alycia Parks “Serena Williams is in great shape”
Alycia Parks is through to the main draw of the WTA Qatar Open after two wins in qualifying and shared her thoughts on a possible Serena Williams comeback.
www.tennismajors.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:11 PM
More news on the looming Serena comeback:
She recently practiced with a top-100 WTA player, Alycia Parks.
“She is in great shape, so I think she would kill it on tour,” Parks said of Serena.
www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-new...
She recently practiced with a top-100 WTA player, Alycia Parks.
“She is in great shape, so I think she would kill it on tour,” Parks said of Serena.
www.tennismajors.com/wta-tour-new...
Heckin’ huge effort by Ethan Quinn, saving four match points to beat Hungarian #1 Fabian Marozsan 13-11 in the third set tiebreak.
Quinn and Tommy Paul’s wins put the USA up 2-0 on the road on clay.
#DavisCup
Quinn and Tommy Paul’s wins put the USA up 2-0 on the road on clay.
#DavisCup
February 7, 2026 at 5:06 PM
Heckin’ huge effort by Ethan Quinn, saving four match points to beat Hungarian #1 Fabian Marozsan 13-11 in the third set tiebreak.
Quinn and Tommy Paul’s wins put the USA up 2-0 on the road on clay.
#DavisCup
Quinn and Tommy Paul’s wins put the USA up 2-0 on the road on clay.
#DavisCup
Mostly spending my day seething about what’s happening at the Post, but would be remiss not to mention how amazing that WTA 500 Abu Dhabi stadium full of Filipinos for Alex Eala just was.
February 4, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Mostly spending my day seething about what’s happening at the Post, but would be remiss not to mention how amazing that WTA 500 Abu Dhabi stadium full of Filipinos for Alex Eala just was.
I read the Washington Post sports section on my way to school every morning as a kid, then called Post Haste—the old phone service the Post used to run in the pre-internet days—to find out what the late night west coast NHL scores had been.
February 4, 2026 at 4:02 PM
I read the Washington Post sports section on my way to school every morning as a kid, then called Post Haste—the old phone service the Post used to run in the pre-internet days—to find out what the late night west coast NHL scores had been.
Was clear this was coming for weeks, but it’s no less devastating and unforgivable.
And that goes to the damage done to the rest of the Post as well, including their great Books section.
Democracy dies in darkness, indeed.
And that goes to the damage done to the rest of the Post as well, including their great Books section.
Democracy dies in darkness, indeed.
The layoffs at the Washington Post have begun, with newsroom leaders telling employees its sports and books sections will be 'eliminated in current forms' and its international coverage will be downsized
February 4, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Was clear this was coming for weeks, but it’s no less devastating and unforgivable.
And that goes to the damage done to the rest of the Post as well, including their great Books section.
Democracy dies in darkness, indeed.
And that goes to the damage done to the rest of the Post as well, including their great Books section.
Democracy dies in darkness, indeed.
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
Bezos isn't destroying the Washington Post because it isn't profitable. He's destroying the Washington Post because he's calculated that a robust free press threatens the ability of his class to warp society around their interests
February 4, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Bezos isn't destroying the Washington Post because it isn't profitable. He's destroying the Washington Post because he's calculated that a robust free press threatens the ability of his class to warp society around their interests
Back home in DC and even further preoccupied by the travesties of mismanagement befalling The Washington Post…wishing the best for all the great journalists and their readers, who both deserve so, so much better than what Bezos has done to the place in the last six months.
February 4, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Back home in DC and even further preoccupied by the travesties of mismanagement befalling The Washington Post…wishing the best for all the great journalists and their readers, who both deserve so, so much better than what Bezos has done to the place in the last six months.
After his Australian Open final loss, Novak Djokovic spoke bluntly and bleakly about his future in his Serbian press conference.
“I think I’ll come back. But whether you’ll see me here as an active player, we’ll see.”
Read the translation at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/australian...
“I think I’ll come back. But whether you’ll see me here as an active player, we’ll see.”
Read the translation at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/australian...
Novak Djokovic's Bleak Point
After an agonizing loss, the 24-time major champion was again blunt in Serbian with his uncertainties about playing onward.
www.benrothenberg.com
February 1, 2026 at 9:28 PM
After his Australian Open final loss, Novak Djokovic spoke bluntly and bleakly about his future in his Serbian press conference.
“I think I’ll come back. But whether you’ll see me here as an active player, we’ll see.”
Read the translation at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/australian...
“I think I’ll come back. But whether you’ll see me here as an active player, we’ll see.”
Read the translation at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/australian...
At the Alcaraz-Djokovic Australian Open final on Sunday, it became ever clearer that the biggest moments in men's tennis are now property of an extremely exclusive circle of legends.
Free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/carlos-alc...
Free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/carlos-alc...
Legends Only
In the Australian Open final between Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic, it became clear that mortals no longer need apply in men's tennis.
www.benrothenberg.com
February 1, 2026 at 8:37 PM
At the Alcaraz-Djokovic Australian Open final on Sunday, it became ever clearer that the biggest moments in men's tennis are now property of an extremely exclusive circle of legends.
Free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/carlos-alc...
Free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/carlos-alc...
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
The Australian Open men’s final chat at Bounces is now open and live! Come join us to join a community of awake people!
Alcaraz! Djokovic! You! Me!
bit.ly/3Oheq0n
Alcaraz! Djokovic! You! Me!
bit.ly/3Oheq0n
Ben Rothenberg in Bounces
The Australian Open men’s final is here, and so is the final Bounces chat thread of the tournament!
Djokovic going for a record-extending 25th major title, and to be the oldest man to ever win one.
...
bit.ly
February 1, 2026 at 8:38 AM
The Australian Open men’s final chat at Bounces is now open and live! Come join us to join a community of awake people!
Alcaraz! Djokovic! You! Me!
bit.ly/3Oheq0n
Alcaraz! Djokovic! You! Me!
bit.ly/3Oheq0n
Honestly it’s the cringiest shit in tennis for me.
This LV unboxing of Norman is tacky af
February 1, 2026 at 8:38 AM
Honestly it’s the cringiest shit in tennis for me.
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
Presented without comment
February 1, 2026 at 8:35 AM
Presented without comment
The Australian Open men’s final chat at Bounces is now open and live! Come join us to join a community of awake people!
Alcaraz! Djokovic! You! Me!
bit.ly/3Oheq0n
Alcaraz! Djokovic! You! Me!
bit.ly/3Oheq0n
Ben Rothenberg in Bounces
The Australian Open men’s final is here, and so is the final Bounces chat thread of the tournament!
Djokovic going for a record-extending 25th major title, and to be the oldest man to ever win one.
...
bit.ly
February 1, 2026 at 8:38 AM
The Australian Open men’s final chat at Bounces is now open and live! Come join us to join a community of awake people!
Alcaraz! Djokovic! You! Me!
bit.ly/3Oheq0n
Alcaraz! Djokovic! You! Me!
bit.ly/3Oheq0n
As Novak Djokovic gets ready to play for a record-extending 25th major men's singles title, I wanted to reshare a favorite story about an iconic moment from his 16th major win at Wimbledon 2019.
The story behind a famous finger, free at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/wimbledon-...
The story behind a famous finger, free at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/wimbledon-...
The Woman Behind Wimbledon's Iconic Finger of Fate
An interview with the woman whose finger unwittingly created one of the most enduring images in modern Wimbledon history during the 2019 Djokovic-Federer final.
www.benrothenberg.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:59 AM
As Novak Djokovic gets ready to play for a record-extending 25th major men's singles title, I wanted to reshare a favorite story about an iconic moment from his 16th major win at Wimbledon 2019.
The story behind a famous finger, free at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/wimbledon-...
The story behind a famous finger, free at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/wimbledon-...
After her big win at the Australian Open, Elena Rybakina spoke of the investigation into her coach, Stefano Vukov—who received a trophy, too.
“Any situation like that knocks you off-balance. And it was a very unpleasant experience.”
Read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/australian...
“Any situation like that knocks you off-balance. And it was a very unpleasant experience.”
Read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/australian...
Elena Rybakina Stood by Her Man
After her big win in Melbourne, the Australian Open champion spoke about the "very unpleasant experience" of the investigation into her coach Stefano Vukov.
www.benrothenberg.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:09 PM
After her big win at the Australian Open, Elena Rybakina spoke of the investigation into her coach, Stefano Vukov—who received a trophy, too.
“Any situation like that knocks you off-balance. And it was a very unpleasant experience.”
Read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/australian...
“Any situation like that knocks you off-balance. And it was a very unpleasant experience.”
Read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/australian...
Umpire: “Game, set, match!”
Rybakina: 🙂
A champ who very much does things her own way. And my gosh, what a match by her tonight.
Rybakina: 🙂
A champ who very much does things her own way. And my gosh, what a match by her tonight.
January 31, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Umpire: “Game, set, match!”
Rybakina: 🙂
A champ who very much does things her own way. And my gosh, what a match by her tonight.
Rybakina: 🙂
A champ who very much does things her own way. And my gosh, what a match by her tonight.