New at Bounces: The story of how Sam Querrey put in the time, effort, and money to build himself into a sudden social media star in retirement, ultimately getting rewarded with a huge new role at #RolandGarros on TNT: Read here: benrothenberg.com/p/sam-querrey-…

Meet Victor Martinez, more famously known as Victor Barber, more notoriously know as Carlos Alcaraz ‘s barber. Ben Rothenberg chased him down at Roland-Garros to ask him about his new celebrity status. A really entertaining story. Do read. open.substack.com/pub/benrothenb…

Have you been wondering how Sam Querrey came out of nowhere to become one of the most prominent faces in US tennis media? So was I, and along the way I learned lots about how the sausage gets made by hidden experts on tennis social media. Read here: benrothenberg.com/p/sam-querrey-…

r.i.p. to a lovely backhand. cooler to be remembered for a shot than for any given title imo

#RolandGarros men's bottom half fourth round set: Musetti-Rune Tiafoe-Altmaier Popyrin-Paul Shelton-Alcaraz

New at Bounces: On how Franklin Tiafoe, twin brother of Frances, took a long journey of his own out of "that shadow," and found his own identity in tennis as the coach of #RolandGarros third rounder Hailey Baptiste. Read (and subscribe to Bounces): benrothenberg.com/p/frances-tiaf…

Arthur Fils says he has a stress fracture in his back (L5 vertebrae), which left him with no choice but to withdraw from Roland Garros. Fils says he will be out for 4 to 6 weeks and Wimbledon is uncertain. Never presume to know what a player is going through physically.

Still a few months away, but US Open is very, very excited about what they’re cooking with their newfangled mixed doubles event. Player buy-in from singles stars has been *huge*: I’ve heard that 9 of WTA Top 10 are currently planning to play, as well as 10 of the ATP Top 10.

Ethan Quinn, recipient of a considerable #BouncesBounce™️, is battling in the third set of his third round match vs Griekspoor. Read up on the player who could, remarkably, become the fourth American man in the Last 16 of #RolandGarros : benrothenberg.com/p/ethan-quinn-…

Kasatkina hasn't had a great season so far, but she's timing the peaks nicely. Won three matches each in just two events - Australian Open and Roland Garros. Her varied defending lured out so many baseline errors from Badosa today, will face Andreeva next (leads the H2H 1-0).

A must read from Ben. Here’s a tidbit: “Brian Garber, Quinn’s longtime coach, says that since the work with the mental coach began, he and the rest of Quinn’s team have now been able to “hold him accountable now at a higher standard—because before our baseline was pretty low”

Love

As Hailey Baptiste arrives to Court 14 for her third round match at #RolandGarros, read up on the familiar name in her corner: Franklin Tiafoe, who is coming into his own after years of his twin brother being "in the limelight." Read and subscribe: benrothenberg.com/p/frances-tiaf…

For the story of this successful partnership, and Franklin’s journey in tennis from out of his brother’s shadow: benrothenberg.com/p/frances-tiaf…

Americans have had their best first week at #RolandGarros in 40 years, with eight players reaching the fourth round in singles for the first time since *1985*.

Félicitations, Paris.

The ever-entertaining Alexander Bublik had lots to say after improbably reaching the second week of #RolandGarros in a clay season full of wins for him. Plus as a treat for Bounces subscribers behind the paywall, the French Open fines list so far. benrothenberg.com/p/alexander-bu…