The Player’s Box – Episode 26 | Hot Takes & Middle East Tournament Updates

Date: February 10, 2026
Hosts: Madison Keys, Jessica Pegula, Jennifer Brady, Desirae Krawczyk

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, Keys, Pegula, Brady, and Krawczyk deliver a candid, behind-the-scenes look at life on the pro tennis tour. The conversation covers Middle East tournament updates, wild travel mishaps, hot takes on everything from fashion to food, and fan Q&A. The relaxed, banter-filled chat reveals not just the rigors of the sport, but the personalities that keep the grind fun for these tennis stars.

Highlights & Segment Breakdown

1. Unforced Errors of the Week

[01:05–07:00]

• Madison Keys: Shared failed multitasking while doing laundry, narrowly avoiding a concussion:

  “I was putting laundry away, bent over by the wall and somehow rammed the entire right side of my body into the wall. ...Bjorn was just standing there like, ‘What is wrong with you?’” (01:49)

• Jessica Pegula: Detailed a disastrous Call of Duty night, interrupted by her puppy Mabel throwing up on her lap:

  “She just threw up all her food on me … We lost and I died. … Mabel has now thrown up on both me and Taylor.” (02:34)

• Desirae Krawczyk: Frustrating booking error after a late match loss:

  “I rage-booked a flight to Doha… Got to the airport, realized I booked it for February 21 instead of February 7, paid for excess baggage too, had to buy a new flight, and ended up paying for three flights.” (03:40)

• Jennifer Brady: Couldn’t think of any error, but confessed her car became a mess after leaving it at the USTA for a long time:

  “My car is so dirty… When I drive off, leaves still fly out from under the windshield wipers.” (06:18)

Memorable moment: The group erupts over who “wins” the worst day—flight mishaps versus being thrown up on.

2. Middle East Tournament Recap & Schedules

[08:00–17:00]

• Krawczyk: Enjoyed Abu Dhabi, made it to semifinals, praised the event, mentioning the “hotel feels like vacation.” (08:08)

• Upcoming tournaments: Keys, Pegula, and Krawczyk play Dubai. Brady targets Austin as her next event.

• Comical Rant:

  • Keys details the convoluted WTA entry rules that prevent her from playing Austin due to top-10 status overlap with Pegula, leading to a two-year lockout:

    “One year I get screwed because I did too well … The next year, I'm penalized for dropping out of the top ten but can't take a wild card. … It makes no sense to me.” (13:33)

• Other updates:

  • Surprise champions in the post-AO week: Sorana Cirstea, Sarah Balik, Katie Boulter.
  • Pegula admits:

    “I also feel like sometimes I don't pay attention and then I'm just like, oh, someone won a tournament.” (17:01)

3. Travel & Tour Life Anecdotes

[15:07–19:08]

• On bridging tournament scheduling gaps:

  • Players share how logistics force long stays in places like Doha unnecessarily; rookie mistakes referenced.

• Bianca Andreescu’s comeback via ITFs discussed, with Brady:

  “She made me question everything … I love that she’s grinding … It’s tough, especially after you’ve won a slam.” (19:22)

• Mishaps & Fashion:

  • Krawczyk’s choice of “flip-flops with a heel” for the player party in Qatar roasted online, but she takes it in stride:

    “I thought it looked good, but this guy really shut me down. … But the fact—I’m still gonna keep wearing it.” (23:48)

4. Hot Takes Lightning Round (Rotating Questions & Reactions)

[26:48–47:03]

Engaging, rapid-fire debate on fan-submitted and personal hot takes.

• Cupcakes have too much icing – All except Krawczyk agree.

• Doubles deserves more attention – All agree, with explanations on the unique skills and lack of promotion:

  “I don’t think there’s enough credit given to doubles … The timing, the moving—if I’m up against two doubles specialists, I’m about to get embarrassed.” (28:05 – Keys)

• Other hot takes discussed:

  • Socks in bed is criminal – Mixed reactions, Keys confesses cold toes.
  • Tennis is harder than it looks – Universal agreement.
  • Only one surface for tennis? – All say no.
  • Taylor Swift: business or lyrical genius? – Mostly “business”, Brady makes a case for “lyrical genius.”
  • Folding laundry vs. dishes – Laundry seen as more tedious (except Krawczyk).
  • Cilantro tastes like soap – Divided; Brady can’t stand it.
  • Physical menu vs. QR code – Hard preference for paper menus.
  • Breaking serve vs. ace excitement – The group chooses hitting an ace.
  • Career Grand Slam vs 10 slams – All opt for 10, unless career slam plus additional.
  • Girl pockets suck – Hilarious confusion, cultural debate ensues:

    “You can fit so many things in men’s pockets … keys, wallet, phone, headphones, a hammer…” (47:03 – Keys)

5. Super Bowl Sidebar

[51:30–55:02]

• Mixed excitement about the Super Bowl; general consensus in favor of the Seahawks.
• Discussion on halftime shows and favorite Super Bowl snacks:

  “I love a good French onion dip with Lay’s chips.” – Krawczyk (53:04)

• Noted past Super Bowl party experiences and the desire to attend pre-Super Bowl events.

6. Fan Q&A

[56:25–69:59]

• Who Am I?

  • Last week’s answer: Marcos Giron.
  • This week’s (cryptic) clues: “Tennis runs in my family. I took a path less traveled. I have main character energy. Game refuses to stay quiet. If I were to skateboard, it’d be goofy style.” (Hint: a lefty)

• Racket Specs Deep Dive (60:02–68:09):

  • Desirae Krawczyk: Babolat Pure Aero Team, 4 3/8 grip, Luxilon Element 1.25, ~50 lbs, silicone in handle.
  • Jessica Pegula: Yonex Ezone (~323g), leather grip, weighted & balanced, high 40s string tension, specific about equipment equality.
  • Madison Keys: Yonex Ezone, cushion grip, grip size 2, some lead at the top, tension varies, feels-based.
  • Jennifer Brady: Babolat Aero, 4 1/4 grip, 48–52 lbs, cushion/soft grip, loves white overgrips and soft feel.

• Would you swap lives with another host for a week?

  • Pegula picks Brady for “hotel breakfast at a Marriott.”
  • Keys chooses Krawczyk, “to wake up with perfect hair.”
  • Krawczyk: “I want to be Maddie for the skincare gadgets and coffee routines.”
  • Brady would swap with Pegula for the “chaos with the dogs.”

Notable Quotes

• Keys, on WTA entry weirdness:

  “It’s like I’m penalized for being too good, but then also, like, five days later I won’t be top 10… It makes no sense to me.” (13:33)

• Krawczyk, on fashion haters:

  “I was just going with the trend… thought it looked good, but this guy really shut me down. …I’m still gonna keep wearing it.” (23:48)

• Brady, on doubles credit:

  “I do think there should be more people at the matches...it's still very good tennis.” (27:47)

• Pegula, on Super Bowl pre-game parties:

  “You just walk in and… that’s a famous person. That’s a famous person. They’re all wandering around these sponsor events, putting on performances.” (55:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 01:05 – Start of Unforced Errors
• 08:00 – Middle East Tournament Updates
• 13:33 – Keys’ WTA/Austin tournament rant
• 15:07 – Rookie tour scheduling mistakes
• 19:15 – Andreescu’s comeback & lower-level grind
• 23:24 – Des's “burn those flip-flops” story
• 26:48 – Hot Takes Lightning Round begins
• 47:03 – Girl pockets debate
• 51:30 – Super Bowl segment
• 56:25 – Who Am I? / Fan Questions
• 60:02 – Racket Specs discussion

Tone and Language

The episode is casual, playful, and full of friendly jabs. The hosts’ camaraderie drives the show, making industry details accessible and personal, with moments of offbeat humor (e.g., the pockets debate, unfiltered travel horror stories) and candid self-deprecation.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode is a candid snapshot of real tennis tour life, far beyond scoreboards. You'll enjoy travel drama, comical errors, procedural frustrations, women supporting women, pop-culture riffing, and insider insights into the practicalities of pro gear and scheduling. The banter and inside jokes are matched by genuine hot takes and thoughtful fan responses—making it a must-listen for tennis fans and anyone who likes their sports podcasts spontaneous and unfiltered.