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algruskin.bsky.social
Alex Gruskin
@algruskin.bsky.social
Editor-in-Chief, Cracked Racquets
March 4, 2025 at 12:21 PM
New @crackedracquets.bsky.social: My WTA + ATP Top 10 Rankings heading into the Sunshine Swing

Quite the fun exercise to undergo. Available wherever you listen to The Mini-Break Podcast!!
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Everyone's Caught the Bug
Podcast Episode · The Mini-Break [Tennis Podcast] · 02/27/2025 · 41m
podcasts.apple.com
March 4, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Was asked by our @crackedracquets.bsky.social intern @owenalderman.bsky.social how this Keys run compares to Nalbandian's 2007 Madrid Title

Probably not quite THAT, but it's definitely in the conversation/a modern day equivalent
January 25, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Reposted by Alex Gruskin
MB ft. @algruskin.bsky.social AO Day 11 Recap

-Keys owns January
-Can anyone slowdown Swiatek?
-Sinner’s world
-Ben Shelton, PHD in HC Majors
-QFs & previewing Final Four

📺: www.youtube.com/live/1rnKXUf...

#AusOpen
January 22, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Fun Fact: Following their impending #AusOpen  SF meeting, Ben Shelton will have faced Jannik Sinner more than any other opponent in his career to date

Given each guy's particular prowess on hard courts, feels like they could run up quite the healthy match count this next decade
January 22, 2025 at 5:34 PM
First time since the 2015 US Open (!!!!) that the Top Two Seeds in both the Women's and Men's Singles Draws have all advanced to the Semifinals at the same Major

Kind of crazy right?!
January 22, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Alex Gruskin
TEXAS TENNIS SHOWDOWN!

Join @algruskin.bsky.social
tonight at 7pm ET / 6pm CT for our CrossCourt Cast coverage live from the Hawkins Indoor Tennis Center in Waco:

#2 TCU at Baylor

📺: youtube.com/@crackedracq...
January 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Seeds eliminated in #AusOpen2025 R4

Women's: Rybakina (6), Kasatkina (9), Andreeva (14), Vekic (18)

Men's: Rune (13), Humbert (14), Draper (15), Lehecka (24)

FWIW: Only one unseeded player (Sonego) reached the QFs in either draw. First man to do it since Shelton (US Open 2023)
January 20, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Men with college ties advancing to #AusOpen2025 the QFs

Shelton (21)

Guaranteed a winning record for the tournament with Shelton's victory. 20 total main draw victories ain't too shabby a sum either. A job well done
January 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
American Men go 2-2 overall in #AusOpen2025 R4 (1-0 in 2024)

Advancing to QFs: Paul (12), Shelton (21)

- 3rd straight GS to feature multiple 🇺🇸 Men in the QFs
- Paul guaranteed to make Top 10 debut
- Shelton's reached QFs or further at 3 of the last 5 hard court slams

Grade: A
January 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
A look at @tennisabstract.bsky.social's forecast for the #AusOpen2025 Men's Singles 🏆 entering the QFs

1. Sinner 73.6%
2. Djokovic 13.5%
3. Alcaraz 6.3%
4. Zverev 5.1%
5. Shelton 0.6%
6. De Minaur 0.5%
7. Paul 0.4%
8. Sonego 0.0%

Forecast has stayed consistent. Underselling the field imo
January 20, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Alex Gruskin
And just to reiterate a fact; Alex Gruskin is the hardest working man in tennis.

Literally everywhere helping grow the sport, especially at the NCAA and ATP Challenger level.

A highly recommended follow if you haven't already.

🎾
Just to reiterate the stat: Madison Keys is now a RIDICULOUS 29-4 overall (!!!!) in the month of January since the start of 2022

Has picked up two Adelaide titles, a United Cup title, and made two AO QFs (or better) appearances as well

Talk about mastering the offseason
January 20, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Just to reiterate the stat: Madison Keys is now a RIDICULOUS 29-4 overall (!!!!) in the month of January since the start of 2022

Has picked up two Adelaide titles, a United Cup title, and made two AO QFs (or better) appearances as well

Talk about mastering the offseason
January 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
American Women go 3-0 overall in #AusOpen2025 R4 (went 1-1 in 2024)

Advancing to the QFs: Gauff (3), Navarro (8), Keys (19)

Headlines
- Keys now a whopping 29-4 (!!) overall in her last 3 Januarys
- Navarro into her 3rd straight QF at a major
- 8th GS QF for Gauff
- Grade: A
January 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Women with college ties advancing to #AusOpen2025 QFs

Emma Navarro (8)

3rd straight major QF for the former @UVAWomensTennis All-American. Matches the career total of fellow 'Hoo Danielle Collins at just 23 years-old. Not too shabby
January 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
A look at @tennisabstract.bsky.social's forecast for the #AusOpen2025 Women's Singles 🏆 entering the QFs

1. Sabalenka 32.9%
2. Swiatek 32.8%
3. Gauff 22.2%
4. Keys 4.3%
5. Badosa 3.0%
6. Svitolina 2.1%
7. Navarro 1.8%
8. Pavlyuchenkova 0.8%

Feels pretty dang spot on to me
January 20, 2025 at 4:57 PM
Comparisons to Serena, Evert, Seles, and Sanchez Vicario all in the last 48 hours

Not saying it's a clear cut "Golden Era" on the WTA Tour yet...but certainly feels like we're knocking on the door of something special
January 19, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Seeds eliminated in #AusOpen2025 R3

Women's: Paolini (4), Pegula (7), Collins (10), Shnaider (12), Haddad Maia (15), Kostyuk (17), Frech (23), Putintseva (24), Fernandez (30), Yastremska (32)

Men's: Fritz (4), Musetti (16), Khachanov (19), Fils (20), Machac (26), Cerundolo (31)
January 18, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Men with college ties advancing to #AusOpen2025 R4

Shelton (21)
Tien

19-17 overall entering Week 2. Will have to hit the archives to find out the last time this group put up that many total victories at a major. Heckuva start to 2025
January 18, 2025 at 4:51 PM
American Men go 4-2 overall in #AusOpen2025 R3 (1-4 in 2024)

Advancing to R4: Paul (12), Shelton (21), Michelsen, Tien

Headlines
- Shelton/Michelsen/Tien doing "1990s" things (always good for🇺🇸tennis)
- Michelsen now 4-1 vs. Top 20 since US Open
- Tough Fritz loss

Overall: A-
January 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Via @tennisabstract.bsky.social forecast: Top 10 Contenders for the #AusOpen2025 Men's Singles 🏆 entering R4

1. Sinner 70.0% ⬆️
2. Djokovic 15.5%⬆️
3. Alcaraz 6.0%⬇️
4. Zverev 4.8%⬇️
5. Monfils 0.9%⬆️
6. Paul 0.6%➡️
7. Draper 0.5%⬇️
7. De Minaur 0.5%⬆️
9. Rune 0.4%⬆️
9. Shelton 0.4%⬆️
January 18, 2025 at 4:50 PM
American Women go 3-2 overall in #AusOpen2025 R3 (went 2-3 in 2024)

Advancing to R4: Gauff (3), Navarro (8), Keys (19)

Headlines
- 6th straight Slam R4/9 out of the last 10 for Gauff
- Navarro into her 4th straight R4 at a major
- Tough Pegula loss
- Overall: B/B+?!
January 18, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Women with college ties advancing to #AusOpen2025 R4

Emma Navarro (8)

4th consecutive major + 5th time in the last 6 with an R4 appearance for at least one player with college ties in women's singles. 4th straight R4 appearance for Navarro as well
January 18, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Via @tennisabstract.bsky.social forecast: Top 10 Contenders for the #AusOpen2025 Women's Singles 🏆 entering R4

1. Swiatek 30.1%⬆️
2. Sabalenka 28.2%⬇️
3. Gauff 21.9%⬆️
4. Rybakina 6.2%⬇️
5. Badosa 3.6%⬆️
6. Keys 2.4%⬆️
7. Andreeva 1.6%➡️
7. Svitolina 1.6%⬆️
9. Navarro 1.3%⬆️
10. Kasatkina 1.0%⬆️
January 18, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Nice to see Clara Tauson finding her top form again to start the 2025 season

Picked up the Hobart Title in Week #1 + knocked off Noskova (29) in an impressive R1 victory. Currently up a set and break on Maria in #AusOpen2025 R2 too

22 year-old again looking elite when on script
January 15, 2025 at 1:37 AM