iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

As Bounces turns two years old, in lieu of gifts please send story tips and information! www.benrothenberg.com/p/bounces-be...

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Two Years Down, Ready For More at Bounces

Have a story? Please get in touch.

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Jessica Luther @jessicawluther.com · 01/10/2026

This *INCLUDES* tourism from the world's largest sporting event, and it was FIFA's biggest-ever World Cup.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

Breaking news at Bounces: The WTA's new Tour Architecture Council has been rolling out the changes it has made to the 2027 calendar, including a possibly drastic change to the format of the WTA Finals. Plus, big news for the Philippines. Read here: www.benrothenberg.com/p/breaking-w...

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Breaking: WTA to Overhaul Finals and Schedule Rules for 2027

An inside look at blueprints drawn up by the WTA’s new Tour Architecture Council.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Amanda Anisimova is ending her 2026 season, which had been a frustrating one, due to a recurring wrist injury. She’s going to slip outside the Top 20 soon, but recent signs before this had been promising, so I wouldn’t sell stock in her chances moving forward.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

Not sure what it says about modern sports media to have gotten a triple-bylined *push notification*, but it doesn’t seem good.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 28/09/2026

There had been some speculation that the U.S. Open might’ve been the end of her road, but Venus Williams plays on. She’s taken singles and doubles wild cards into WTA 250 Guangzhou in late October.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 26/09/2026

Doing a lil’ Bounces chat today for Day 2 of Laver Cup action, which is always an event if not actually important? Come and discuss this much-debated event as it rounds a full decade of existence, with some matches that could be pretty good, too. bit.ly/4dYKakV

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Ben Rothenberg in Bounces

There’s been interest in more frequent Bounces chat threads, so with that in mind, here’s one for Laver Cup Day 2 action! As well as whatever else you may be watching on the tennis calendar today.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 25/09/2026

Late but loaded, the U.S. Open notebook column is here at last, with all sorts of fun miscellany from the wildest, drunkest tournament of the year. www.benrothenberg.com/p/2026-us-op...

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Emptying the U.S. Open Notebook

On influencers, weed smoke, sex toys, and other sensory overload at the year’s loudest, drunkest tournament.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

Sure, it was a little annoying to have to ask a Duane Reade employee to unlock a case so I could buy $6 nail clippers while I was in NYC, but it's white-collar theft like this that is actually hurting society on a meaningful scale and that we don't talk about nearly enough as a societal ill.

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Courtney Nguyen @fortydeucetwits.bsky.social · 22/09/2026

also i cannot say this enough times: KANOPY IS FREE. AND GOOD.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Lehecka beats Tien 6-3, 7-5 to clinch the tie for the Czechs. Tough draw for the Americans, sure, but it’s also undoubtedly disappointing that a country with *six* guys in the Top 20 right now hasn’t come closer to bringing one of these things home one of these years.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

A very happy moment for Holger Rune as he wins his comeback match in Davis Cup, nearly 11 months after his Achilles injury. Beat Iliyan Radulov of Bulgaria 6-3, 6-3; expected to face Grigor Dimitrov tomorrow.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Americans and Czechs split on Day 1 in Prague: Tien d. Mensik 6-2, 6-4 Lehecka d. Shelton 6-4, 6-4 U.S. men’s tennis depth is such that a Davis Cup win should be on the table this year; let’s see if they can get it done.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

After it was first reported five months ago on Bounces as a frontrunner, Charlotte was confirmed as the host of the WTA Finals, starting in 2027. Read the details about a high-stakes moment for women's tennis here: www.benrothenberg.com/p/wta-finals...

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Confirmed: WTA Finals Heading to Charlotte

Reported here as a leading candidate months ago, Charlotte has secured the WTA’s year-end championships—and the WTA headquarters.

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Jessica Luther @jessicawluther.com · 16/09/2026

The Manning moment is small, in the scheme of all the things happening in this god forsaken time. But let's be clear -- this is not a product of this time. The AI aspect, yes. But men in sports, especially football, being shitty about and to women? Male journalists joining in? Old shit.

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Carole Bouchard @carolebouchard.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

WTA Finals to be cut short to 5 days… WTA to relocate its headquarters to Charlotte, from Florida. It’s a lot.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

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Confirmed: WTA Finals Heading to Charlotte

Reported here as a leading candidate months ago, Charlotte has secured the WTA’s year-end championships—and the WTA headquarters.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 16/09/2026

A remarkable moment on Sunday’s broadcast.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

I was often so busy writing about the U.S. Open that I didn’t have time to read much about it. Any favorite articles, posts, memes, whatever that y’all enjoyed these past three weeks?

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Less than 24 hours remaining in the Bounces U.S. Open sale! Thanks to everyone who has already subscribed; close now to being the biggest Slam in the two-year history of Bounces! benrothenberg.com/subscribe

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Subscribe to Bounces

A new home for journalist Ben Rothenberg's reporting, insights, and opinions on the world of professional tennis. Click to read Bounces, by Ben Rothenberg, a Substack publication with tens of thousand...

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Wrote at Bounces about the current discourse around Zverev, what his current success says about the tour, and more: www.benrothenberg.com/p/us-open-al...

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Land of Droughts and Shadows

Another complicated Zverev major title extended the American wait for a men’s champion.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Wrote at Bounces about the current discourse around Zverev, what his current success says about the tour, and more: www.benrothenberg.com/p/us-open-al...

benrothenberg.com

Land of Droughts and Shadows

Another complicated Zverev major title extended the American wait for a men’s champion.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

Credit to Mary Carillo, new Hall of Famer, for once more talking about the accusations against Zverev on the U.S. Open World Feed broadcast today. That feed is broadcast not only around the globe, but into those earpiece radios folks are wearing around the stadium.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

As a culture of silence pervades and persists in tennis, I’m thinking of Nina today. www.benrothenberg.com/p/alexander-...

benrothenberg.com

Echoes of a Voice

An interview with the woman who broke the silence around Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 13/09/2026

New at Bounces: On Elena Rybakina going big, making miraculous recoveries small and large, and showing more emotion than she ever has before. Read: www.benrothenberg.com/p/us-open-el...

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Elena Rybakina Goes Big

The new U.S. Open champion and WTA No. 1 recovered remarkably to triumph again.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Jake Paul is here in the Sabalenka box.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Going three! Come join us at the Bounces chat to see who takes the trophy!! bit.ly/4dz0itb

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Elena Rybakina takes the first set 6-4, never broken despite serving at just TWENTY SEVEN percent. Join us on the Bounces chat! bit.ly/4dz0itb

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

On Bounces this morning, reporting the happy news that Donald Trump will NOT be returning to the U.S. Open this year, and looking back at some of the mess around his presence at last year’s final. What was he doing with the doubles trophy? www.benrothenberg.com/p/donald-tru...

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This Time, Trump Will Stay Away From U.S. Open

After a disruptive U.S. Open visit last year that prompted inquiries, President Trump has made other plans.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

New at Bounces: An interview with Aryna Sabalenka’s coach Anton Dubrov as she seeks a third straight U.S. Open title after coming into New York low on confidence. Read here: www.benrothenberg.com/p/us-open-ar...

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Aryna Sabalenka: From No. 1 to No. 2...to Three in a Row?

An interview with Aryna Sabalenka’s coach Anton Dubrov. Plus, Shelton d. Tiafoe.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Come join the Bounces chat for Tiafoe-Shelton! bit.ly/3UNCyey

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Zverev has a 24-2 record at the majors this year. He also has a 1-2 record against top-10 opponents at the majors this year, with the lone win coming against an ailing Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon. He’s capitalized on a profound men’s tennis recession period,

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Honestly it would be fascinating to see an economic impact study of how much money Zverev has potentially cost men’s tennis in the last six years.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Ticket prices to see the Zverev-Khachanov semifinal are PLUMMETING, now as low as $19 on Stubhub.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Now under $30 to see #1 seeded Zverev in a Grand Slam semifinal today. And some prices are as low as $22, which is cheaper than one Honey Deuce.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The ticket market has absolutely cratered for the Zverev-Khachanov semifinal, dropping 89% in just three days down to $35.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

The American favorites--and no one is more of an American favorite than Coco Gauff--were dealt a #1 and #2 punch in the U.S. Open women's semifinals. Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/us-open-co...

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Lights Out

Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula were dealt a No. 1-No. 2 punch in the U.S. Open semifinals.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

New at Bounces: An interview with Dr. Mark Kovacs, coach of the rebuilt Frances Tiafoe, who has guided him to new heights this year. Plus, Elena Rybakina reaches WTA No. 1 Read at Bounces: www.benrothenberg.com/p/us-open-fr...

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Keeping Up the Good Work

An interview with Frances Tiafoe’s coach, Dr. Mark Kovacs. Also, Elena Rybakina reaches No. 1.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

One American ladder note from this story on everything that happened yesterday/this morning: Monday will be the first time Frances Tiafoe will be ranked ahead of Taylor Fritz in more than seven years, since June 2019.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

It is absurd that I am finishing my reports on yesterday's U.S. Open action at 6:40 a.m, which is only three hours after it finished, and less than five hours until the next day's play starts. The matches were great; the tournament needs an overdue fix. www.benrothenberg.com/p/us-open-la...

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The U.S. Open’s Longest Day’s Journey Into Night Into Morning

On Shelton d. Alcaraz, Tiafoe d. Michelsen, Sabalenka d. Noskova, and delirium.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

3:20 a.m. 6-6 in the fifth set. It’s been ridiculous, in all ways.

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Ben Rothenberg @benrothenberg.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Y’all it is so late here that the late shift cleaners have already started mopping inside Ashe as this fifth set is underway. The U.S. Open is…something.

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