Ben Rothenberg
@benrothenberg.bsky.social
Please do check out my Substack, BOUNCES, at benrothenberg.com
Pinned
Bottom Dollar
On the shady practices of 1xBet, and its rapidly growing presence across tennis.
www.benrothenberg.com
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
That result in Turin ensures that #2 Sinner will finish 2025 with more than twice as many ranking points as #3 Zverev.
Never before has tennis felt so starkly stratified.
Never before has tennis felt so starkly stratified.
Nitto ATP Finals QF: F. Auger-Aliassime (CAN) allows A. Zverev (GER) to defeat himself 6-4, 7-6(4)
horrible match, but I expect FAA to play much, much better in the semis
horrible match, but I expect FAA to play much, much better in the semis
November 14, 2025 at 10:01 PM
That result in Turin ensures that #2 Sinner will finish 2025 with more than twice as many ranking points as #3 Zverev.
Never before has tennis felt so starkly stratified.
Never before has tennis felt so starkly stratified.
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
This story is wild. How can any serious sporting event or organization stand over a sponsorship from this lot?
The ITF saying they "rigorously vetted" them for the BJK Cup deal? Yikes 👀
Great work by Ben here – and read the Bellingcat piece too, which shows the scale and sheer weirdness of it all
The ITF saying they "rigorously vetted" them for the BJK Cup deal? Yikes 👀
Great work by Ben here – and read the Bellingcat piece too, which shows the scale and sheer weirdness of it all
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
Bottom Dollar
On the shady practices of 1xBet, and its rapidly growing presence across tennis.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:48 PM
This story is wild. How can any serious sporting event or organization stand over a sponsorship from this lot?
The ITF saying they "rigorously vetted" them for the BJK Cup deal? Yikes 👀
Great work by Ben here – and read the Bellingcat piece too, which shows the scale and sheer weirdness of it all
The ITF saying they "rigorously vetted" them for the BJK Cup deal? Yikes 👀
Great work by Ben here – and read the Bellingcat piece too, which shows the scale and sheer weirdness of it all
As a companion to yesterday's Bounces deep dive into 1xBet's problematic presence in tennis, I chatted with Ross Higgins of @bellingcat.com about their investigations and why sports brands that *should* be prestigious keep doing deals with this dirty company.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-cont...
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-cont...
Digging into 1xBet's Bleak World of Sports
A conversation with Bellingcat's Ross Higgins about investigating the bizarre, depressing world of 1xBet, an emerging tennis presence.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:47 PM
As a companion to yesterday's Bounces deep dive into 1xBet's problematic presence in tennis, I chatted with Ross Higgins of @bellingcat.com about their investigations and why sports brands that *should* be prestigious keep doing deals with this dirty company.
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-cont...
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-cont...
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
Somehow online gambling got even seedier, this article is a great read.
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
Bottom Dollar
On the shady practices of 1xBet, and its rapidly growing presence across tennis.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:21 PM
Somehow online gambling got even seedier, this article is a great read.
Was a close race, and neither sprinted through the finish line in Turin, but with Ben Shelton’s loss to Sinner today, Taylor Fritz narrowly clinched his fifth straight season as the year-end American #1 in the ATP rankings.
November 14, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Was a close race, and neither sprinted through the finish line in Turin, but with Ben Shelton’s loss to Sinner today, Taylor Fritz narrowly clinched his fifth straight season as the year-end American #1 in the ATP rankings.
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
Bottom Dollar
On the shady practices of 1xBet, and its rapidly growing presence across tennis.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
Every thing about this story shocked me. How are these partnerships allowed?
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
Bottom Dollar
On the shady practices of 1xBet, and its rapidly growing presence across tennis.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:34 AM
Every thing about this story shocked me. How are these partnerships allowed?
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
If there is one thing Ben is going to do, it’s follow all avenues of the story until there’s nothing left — until someone is forced to speak, that is.
Ready to feel gross? Enraged? This story has it all.
Ready to feel gross? Enraged? This story has it all.
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
Bottom Dollar
On the shady practices of 1xBet, and its rapidly growing presence across tennis.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 13, 2025 at 10:27 PM
If there is one thing Ben is going to do, it’s follow all avenues of the story until there’s nothing left — until someone is forced to speak, that is.
Ready to feel gross? Enraged? This story has it all.
Ready to feel gross? Enraged? This story has it all.
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
Bottom Dollar
On the shady practices of 1xBet, and its rapidly growing presence across tennis.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:17 PM
New:
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
On 1xBet, the strange and shady company which has become rapidly more visible across tennis in 2025 despite *many* reasons for tours, tournaments, and federations to steer clear of its mess.
Lots of odd details here, free for all to read at Bounces:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/1xbet-tenn...
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
From their accumulated results at lower-level events this fall, Elizabeth Mandlik and Patrick Kypson have clinched the reciprocal wildcards that the Australian Open gives to Americans.
Kypson has been especially strong; now at #117, he would've been one of the higher seeds in the qualies draw.
Kypson has been especially strong; now at #117, he would've been one of the higher seeds in the qualies draw.
November 11, 2025 at 8:02 PM
From their accumulated results at lower-level events this fall, Elizabeth Mandlik and Patrick Kypson have clinched the reciprocal wildcards that the Australian Open gives to Americans.
Kypson has been especially strong; now at #117, he would've been one of the higher seeds in the qualies draw.
Kypson has been especially strong; now at #117, he would've been one of the higher seeds in the qualies draw.
Reposted by Ben Rothenberg
Journalism *is* standards.
“I’ve been hearing that standards will be eliminated or severely cut back. Bari has told people that she wants to get rid of standards and is shocked that they have so much power. She also asked openly, ‘What’s the point of standards?’” one CBS source said.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Bari Weiss wants to take down ‘too much power’ CBS News Standards unit: sources
EXCLUSIVE: Internal rumblings within the newsroom come after the S&P head resigned and the network disbanded its vaunted Race and Culture unit.
www.independent.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Journalism *is* standards.
The newest NCR is out as a video episode for our Patreon supporters!
Audio version out on Sunday evening!
www.patreon.com/posts/new-nc...
Audio version out on Sunday evening!
www.patreon.com/posts/new-nc...
New NCR video episode! Riyadh, Rybakina, ATP calendar torture, Kyrgios vs Sabalenka, and more | No Challenges Remaining
Get more from No Challenges Remaining on Patreon
www.patreon.com
November 9, 2025 at 5:37 AM
The newest NCR is out as a video episode for our Patreon supporters!
Audio version out on Sunday evening!
www.patreon.com/posts/new-nc...
Audio version out on Sunday evening!
www.patreon.com/posts/new-nc...
Elena Rybakina finishes a dominant close to the season in style, winning 6-3, 7-6(0) over #1 Sabalenka in the WTA Finals final.
$5.2 mil, and because WTA withheld ranking points when Rybakina won the depleted Wimbledon 2022, this haul of 1500 points is the biggest of her career.
$5.2 mil, and because WTA withheld ranking points when Rybakina won the depleted Wimbledon 2022, this haul of 1500 points is the biggest of her career.
November 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Elena Rybakina finishes a dominant close to the season in style, winning 6-3, 7-6(0) over #1 Sabalenka in the WTA Finals final.
$5.2 mil, and because WTA withheld ranking points when Rybakina won the depleted Wimbledon 2022, this haul of 1500 points is the biggest of her career.
$5.2 mil, and because WTA withheld ranking points when Rybakina won the depleted Wimbledon 2022, this haul of 1500 points is the biggest of her career.
19-year-old Californian Learner Tien caps off a remarkable 2025 season with his first career title, winning a nailbiting final over Cam Norrie to win ATP 250 Metz.
Tien, who started the year in Australian Open qualifying, will be seeded at the AO to start next season.
Tien, who started the year in Australian Open qualifying, will be seeded at the AO to start next season.
November 8, 2025 at 5:51 PM
19-year-old Californian Learner Tien caps off a remarkable 2025 season with his first career title, winning a nailbiting final over Cam Norrie to win ATP 250 Metz.
Tien, who started the year in Australian Open qualifying, will be seeded at the AO to start next season.
Tien, who started the year in Australian Open qualifying, will be seeded at the AO to start next season.
Odds Djokovic wins in Athens and then tells Musetti he’s pulling out of Turin to let him in anyway?
November 8, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Odds Djokovic wins in Athens and then tells Musetti he’s pulling out of Turin to let him in anyway?
Annoying these three tennis finals are all simultaneous right now, I would happily watch all three of them in full.
November 8, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Annoying these three tennis finals are all simultaneous right now, I would happily watch all three of them in full.
The level has been very, very high out of the gates in this Sabalenka-Rybakina final in Riyadh.
Big, flat-hitting women’s tennis on a fastish indoor court >>>>>>>>>
Big, flat-hitting women’s tennis on a fastish indoor court >>>>>>>>>
November 8, 2025 at 4:26 PM
The level has been very, very high out of the gates in this Sabalenka-Rybakina final in Riyadh.
Big, flat-hitting women’s tennis on a fastish indoor court >>>>>>>>>
Big, flat-hitting women’s tennis on a fastish indoor court >>>>>>>>>
A somewhat under-the-radar story this week:
Vitaliy Sachko, ranked 222nd, became the first Ukrainian man into an ATP semifinal in eight years with his run in Metz.
We discussed the impact of the war on Ukrainian men’s tennis at Bounces tonight:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/vitaliy-sa...
Vitaliy Sachko, ranked 222nd, became the first Ukrainian man into an ATP semifinal in eight years with his run in Metz.
We discussed the impact of the war on Ukrainian men’s tennis at Bounces tonight:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/vitaliy-sa...
A Rare Glimpse of Ukrainian Colors in Men's Tennis
An interview with Vitaliy Sachko of Ukraine, surprise semifinalist this week in Metz.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:17 AM
A somewhat under-the-radar story this week:
Vitaliy Sachko, ranked 222nd, became the first Ukrainian man into an ATP semifinal in eight years with his run in Metz.
We discussed the impact of the war on Ukrainian men’s tennis at Bounces tonight:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/vitaliy-sa...
Vitaliy Sachko, ranked 222nd, became the first Ukrainian man into an ATP semifinal in eight years with his run in Metz.
We discussed the impact of the war on Ukrainian men’s tennis at Bounces tonight:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/vitaliy-sa...
Learner Tien continues a heckin’ stupendous 2025, beating Berrettini in three to reach the semifinals of ATP 250 Metz.
Tien started his year in Australian Open qualifying, and now he’s coming close to being seeded there in a couple months.
Tien started his year in Australian Open qualifying, and now he’s coming close to being seeded there in a couple months.
November 6, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Learner Tien continues a heckin’ stupendous 2025, beating Berrettini in three to reach the semifinals of ATP 250 Metz.
Tien started his year in Australian Open qualifying, and now he’s coming close to being seeded there in a couple months.
Tien started his year in Australian Open qualifying, and now he’s coming close to being seeded there in a couple months.
The latest at Bounces, which is already generating lots of conversation there:
An interview with Stuart Duguid, the agent of Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios who is organizing their controversial “Battle of the Sexes” next month.
On risks and rewards:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/nick-kyrgi...
An interview with Stuart Duguid, the agent of Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios who is organizing their controversial “Battle of the Sexes” next month.
On risks and rewards:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/nick-kyrgi...
Battle Ready or Battle Weary?
A conversation with Stuart Duguid, organizer of the "Battle of the Sexes" between Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios, on its risks and rewards.
www.benrothenberg.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:22 PM
The latest at Bounces, which is already generating lots of conversation there:
An interview with Stuart Duguid, the agent of Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios who is organizing their controversial “Battle of the Sexes” next month.
On risks and rewards:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/nick-kyrgi...
An interview with Stuart Duguid, the agent of Aryna Sabalenka and Nick Kyrgios who is organizing their controversial “Battle of the Sexes” next month.
On risks and rewards:
www.benrothenberg.com/p/nick-kyrgi...
lol what a quote, amazing
Iga Swiatek: “I felt good mentally, physically, and tennis-wise also it was nice, looking at the conditions and everything. So I don’t really get why I couldn’t go out of the group. Maybe I won too much in the last years and this is karma. It’s really hard for me to say (...)”
#WTAFinals
#WTAFinals
November 5, 2025 at 7:58 PM
lol what a quote, amazing
This TC trio of Rubin-Davenport-Vandeweghe team has been doing a great job on these WTA Finals calls, and CoCo has also been great at adding value from being in the building, like just now when she explained what was unfolding with the Polish fan who was annoying Swiatek.
November 5, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This TC trio of Rubin-Davenport-Vandeweghe team has been doing a great job on these WTA Finals calls, and CoCo has also been great at adding value from being in the building, like just now when she explained what was unfolding with the Polish fan who was annoying Swiatek.
Sabalenka-Pegula was very, very good.
November 4, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Sabalenka-Pegula was very, very good.
Made a table to illustrate this for last night’s post on Bounces:
November 3, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Made a table to illustrate this for last night’s post on Bounces: