Monday Match Analysis

Casper Ruud, a professional tennis player and former world No. 2, joins Gill Gross for a lively chat. He shares personal news about his fiancée's upcoming due date, hinting he may prioritize family over competition. Ruud discusses transitioning to a smaller racket headsize for better control on fast courts and reflects on the evolving game with shorter rally lengths. He also hints at the possibility of bringing in external coaching to enhance his training, adding a fresh perspective to his tennis journey.

Alexander Bublik celebrates a breakthrough into the top-10 after his title win over Lorenzo Musetti, showcasing a new style of play. Daniil Medvedev shines in Brisbane, overpowering Brandon Nakashima with elite returns and a confident game. Meanwhile, Hubert Hurkacz steals the spotlight with a strong performance in the United Cup, leading Poland to victory and demonstrating impressive net skills. The tactical breakdowns add depth, revealing what each player needs to improve as the season heats up.

The discussion dives into predictions for the ATP top-10 of 2026, highlighting familiar names and new contenders. Gill Gross analyzes the prospects of players like Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud, while also spotlighting rising stars such as Joao Fonseca and Arthur Fils. The conversation addresses the challenges faced by established players and the potential breakthroughs of younger talents. Key evaluations include Novak Djokovic's longevity, Alexander Zverev's injury concerns, and Carlos Alcaraz's evolving path. Exciting predictions abound!

Jose Moron, founder of Punto de Break and a prominent Spanish tennis reporter, joins to dissect the surprising split between Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero. They dive into the early signs of friction from 2023, uncovering coaching absences and media tensions. Moron reveals that interpersonal conflicts overshadowed financial factors. The discussion also highlights the contrasting coaching styles of Ferrero and new mentor Samu Lopez, predicting how Samu's relaxed approach could shape Alcaraz's future strides on the court.

In this discussion, tennis analyst Gill Gross is joined by Alex Gruskin, the editor-in-chief of Cracked Rackets, to dive into crucial questions for each ATP top-20 player. They explore the impact of Juan Carlos Ferrero's departure on Carlos Alcaraz and debate whether Jannik Sinner can outsmart him. Insights on Novak Djokovic's longevity, Felix Auger-Aliassime's growth, and Ben Shelton's sustainability are intriguing. They also assess Alexander Zverev's potential decline and the upward trajectory of rising stars like Jiri Lehecka and Jakub Mensik.

Tennis analyst Alex Gruskin dives into the world of young ATP stars, reassessing a draft from a year ago. He and host Gill Gross discuss standout performances from Jakub Mensik, Jack Draper, and Holger Rune, spotlighting unexpected triumphs and regrets. They explore the impact of injuries on player trajectories and debate the balance between reliability and potential upside, particularly comparing Musetti's consistency with Shelton's ceiling. The conversation also touches on new rising talents, forecasting their future impact on the sport.

Lorenzo Musetti joins Gill Gross for a chat ahead of the new season. He has said his goal for 2026 is to close the gap on Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, so we asked about what he learned from last year's matches against the top-2. Musetti will continue to work with longtime coach Simone Tarterini, but he has made the decision this offseason to add a 2nd coach, Jose Perlas. We also ask the Italian if he thinks about prize money while playing for 1 million dollars and if he has changed his serve technique in recent months. Musetti will be playing the MGM Slam in Las Vegas on March 1st, a 10-point tiebreak tournament between eight top-players. IG: https://www.instagram.com/gillgross_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gill.gross24/7 Tennis Community on Discord: https://discord.gg/wW3WPqFTFJTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/Gill_GrossThe Draw newsletter, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribeBecome a member to support the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvERpLl9dXH09fuNdbyiLQQ/joinEvans Brothers Coffee Roasters, the Official Coffee Of Monday Match Analysis... use code GILLGROSS25 for 25% off your first order: https://evansbrotherscoffee.com/collections/coffeeAUDIO PODCAST FEEDSSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5c3VXnLDVVgLfZuGk3yxIF?si=AQy9oRlZTACoGr5XS3s_ygItunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/monday-match-analysis/id1432259450?mt=2 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On the Mailbag, Gill Gross answers your comments about anything OTHER than tennis, including: what was my Spotify Wrapped, how is my personal tennis game going, play-by-play on my marriage proposal, the pros and cons of traditional media vs. new media, what other sports I am into, a breakdown of the food experience in Thailand, evaluating the eyebrows on tour, would I add a co-host to the podcast, what it's like to live in LA, how often I recognized, my baseball playing career and how I met my fiancé Jenna.0:00 Intro1:40 Spotify Wrapped​8:25 Personal Tennis Game12:50 Getting Engaged16:33 Traditional vs. New Media23:43 Lightning Round25:30 Other Sports28:00 Thailand Food34:10 Cross Training36:15 Eyebrows38:45 Relationship Keys40:00 Beach or Mountains40:30 Podcast Co-Host41:44 LA Living43:07 Ping Pong43:47 Getting Recognized46:25 Baseball Career51:25 Jenna Backstory54:50 Thailand Visit IG: https://www.instagram.com/gillgross_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gill.gross24/7 Tennis Community on Discord: https://discord.gg/wW3WPqFTFJTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/Gill_GrossThe Draw newsletter, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribeBecome a member to support the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvERpLl9dXH09fuNdbyiLQQ/joinEvans Brothers Coffee Roasters, the Official Coffee Of Monday Match Analysis... use code GILLGROSS25 for 25% off your first order: https://evansbrotherscoffee.com/collections/coffeeAUDIO PODCAST FEEDSSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5c3VXnLDVVgLfZuGk3yxIF?si=AQy9oRlZTACoGr5XS3s_ygItunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/monday-match-analysis/id1432259450?mt=2 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

The 8th Annual Monday Match Analysis Awards, hosted by Gill Gross, pay tribute to the greatest accomplishments and spectacles we witnessed over the course of the 2025 ATP season. If this award show were in-person, the following players would be in attendance (winners and honorable mentions): Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic, Jack Draper, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Tommy Paul, Taylor Fritz, Alexander Bublik, Lorenzo Sonego, Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien.0:00 Intro3:45 Best Story8:50 Comeback Player14:35 Match Comeback19:42 Most Improved24:30 Best Newcomer28:55 Tournament Run33:15 Best Upset37:00 Match Performance45:15 Best Match49:48 Best Player IG: https://www.instagram.com/gillgross_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gill.gross24/7 Tennis Community on Discord: https://discord.gg/wW3WPqFTFJTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/Gill_GrossThe Draw newsletter, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribeBecome a member to support the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvERpLl9dXH09fuNdbyiLQQ/joinEvans Brothers Coffee Roasters, the Official Coffee Of Monday Match Analysis... use code GILLGROSS25 for 25% off your first order: https://evansbrotherscoffee.com/collections/coffeeAUDIO PODCAST FEEDSSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5c3VXnLDVVgLfZuGk3yxIF?si=AQy9oRlZTACoGr5XS3s_ygItunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/monday-match-analysis/id1432259450?mt=2 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Gill Gross reflects on 2025 through the lens of his pre-season top-10 prediction. You can join Ballkie ahead of next year's prediction fun at this link here: https://www.ballkie.com/leagues?join=45f1e11b86 IG: https://www.instagram.com/gillgross_/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@gill.gross24/7 Tennis Community on Discord: https://discord.gg/wW3WPqFTFJTwitter/X: https://twitter.com/Gill_GrossThe Draw newsletter, your one-stop-shop for the best tennis content on the internet every week: https://www.thedraw.tennis/subscribeBecome a member to support the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvERpLl9dXH09fuNdbyiLQQ/joinEvans Brothers Coffee Roasters, the Official Coffee Of Monday Match Analysis... use code GILLGROSS25 for 25% off your first order: https://evansbrotherscoffee.com/collections/coffeeAUDIO PODCAST FEEDSSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5c3VXnLDVVgLfZuGk3yxIF?si=AQy9oRlZTACoGr5XS3s_ygItunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/monday-match-analysis/id1432259450?mt=2 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.