Cracked Interviews [Tennis Podcast] · Cracked Racquets, Bleav

Founder Jonny Levine Discusses a Stacked Field at the 2026 Arizona Tennis Classic

February 22, 2026·36 min·3 clips

Alex Gruskin recalls the electric scene as fans mobbed teen sensation Joao Fonseca in Phoenix.

Host Alex Gruskin interviews Arizona Tennis Classic founder and former University of Texas All-American Jonny Levine to preview the 2026 tournament. Levine, a former ATP doubles quarterfinalist, built this Phoenix-based ATP 175K Challenger event into a premier stop. The episode explores how the tournament attracts elite players and serves the local community. This year's field is historically strong, featuring seven top-50 players with a main draw cutoff at a world ranking of 79. Notable entrants include 2025 finalists João Fonseca and Alexander Bublik, the latter now ranked world No. 10. The qualifying draw cutoff is 136, exemplified by recent Cleveland Challenger champion Colton Smith at rank 141. The event runs March 9-15 at the Phoenix Country Club, with a prize purse of $300,000. Levine details the tournament's charity work, having donated over $400,000 to Phoenix Children's Hospital and supporting the youth organization Serve the Future. A wildcard shootout on February 22 will award a qualifying spot to the winner of a match between Arizona State University and University of Arizona players. A memorable moment from 2025 was the massive fan frenzy for 18-year-old Brazilian João Fonseca, whose every match drew huge autograph-seeking crowds. Levine compares Fonseca's charismatic appeal to that of Roger Federer or a young Bjorn Borg. The conversation highlights how the event often serves as a springboard, citing Bublik's 2025 finals run as a catalyst for his subsequent top-10 breakthrough. Levine argues the tournament's depth means early-round matches can feature future major quarterfinalists. He also provides insight into maintaining key relationships with sponsors and the venue, crediting the event's non-profit model and community focus for its longevity. The tone is conversational and nostalgic, blending a forward-looking tournament preview with personal tennis history. Gruskin and Levine share a nerdy enthusiasm for archival tennis results, discussing Levine's 1984 NCAA tournament run and his doubles partnership with Eric Korita. The style is informative yet relaxed, emphasizing the event's unique atmosphere and behind-the-scenes operations. Tennis fans planning to attend the Indian Wells swing will love this for its insider preview of a must-see warm-up event. Listeners interested in tournament operations, charity initiatives, or the rise of college tennis will find it compelling. Those seeking hard-hitting analysis of top-tier ATP stars might skip it, as the focus is on a Challenger event and its foundational stories.

As heard by us

A focused look at one of the Challenger season's highlights in Phoenix.

The episode gives Johnny Levine the spotlight in a focused, enthusiastic look at the Arizona Tennis Classic, the sixth edition of the Phoenix ATP 175K Challenger.

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Why you'd press play

You want the inside story behind a stacked Phoenix Challenger preview.

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