Cracked Interviews [Tennis Podcast] · Cracked Racquets, Bleav

Grant Chen & Michael Woodson Preview the 2026 ITA Men’s National Indoors

February 3, 2026·57 min·5 clips

SMU's Grant Chen introduces live match commentary and secret player gifts to revolutionize the national indoors.

Host Alex Gruskin previews the 2026 ITA Men's National Indoor Championships with the event's co-hosts, SMU head coach Grant Chen and Baylor head coach Michael Woodson. This episode focuses on the innovations and collaborative efforts behind hosting one of college tennis's premier events. Coaches Chen and Woodson detail the specific enhancements planned for the fan and player experience in this second year of their co-hosting pilot program. Coach Woodson explains that returning staff and resolved logistical details, like tent placement and fan entry points, make execution smoother this year. Both coaches emphasize a shared goal to innovate, such as improving the player gift and adding a community event inspired by a successful Baylor alumni function. A key new feature will be in-match PA announcements providing live commentary on pivotal moments across courts to engage spectators. The conversation highlights the broader need for collaboration within college tennis to grow the sport beyond individual program rivalries. An interesting insight is the planned synergy with the concurrent ATP Dallas Open, including a college doubles playoff for a tournament wildcard involving Baylor, TCU, Texas A&M, and SMU. The coaches believe the proximity of pro and college events creates mutual benefits, drawing more attention to both. They also discuss leveraging the professional success of former college players, like Ben Shelton and Ethan Quinn, to boost collegiate tennis's profile. A memorable moment is Coach Chen recounting how playing golf between matches helped his player Trevor Svajda stay relaxed en route to an NCAA singles final. The tone is conversational and enthusiastic, blending insider sports logistics with a forward-looking discussion on growing the sport. This episode is ideal for dedicated college tennis fans, event organizers, or anyone interested in sports management and promotion. Listeners with no interest in the behind-the-scenes efforts of collegiate athletics or the specific teams involved may find it less engaging.

As heard by us

A steady indoor-season preview that shows why college tennis is worth watching live.

This episode reads as a clear, useful preview of the 2026 Division I Men's and Women's National Indoor Championships, and it works best when it ties fan energy, player development, and the pro pipeline together.

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Why you'd press play

You want the indoor-season temperature before the first ball is struck.

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