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The ATP and WTA Finals bring the eight best players in the world together at the end of the season. Anastasia Folorunso and Ian Mondul talk about how players qualify, how the race differs from the rankings, how the round robin and tiebreak rules work, and why Anastasia thinks simplifying tennis for new fans is the wrong move. Then they talk about why the Finals aren't a bigger event. Ian wants the tours to stop for two weeks beforehand and spend that time on the eight players. Anastasia wants the race talked about from January. They also go through where the WTA and ATP races stood when they recorded on October 18. Next up is Rafael Jódar: his first season as a pro, his year of college tennis, the ball-kid incident in Shanghai and his apology, and Anastasia's three interviews with him this year. Anastasia makes her pitch for Jódar as the rival tennis needs. Ian isn't fully sold. To finish, Matej Dodig, a former top 200 pro, has signed with Texas. Ian asks whether pros should be taking college roster spots. Ground Pass is a tennis podcast for curious newcomers and longtime fans alike. In the Realm of Perfection: McEnroe documentary - https://tubitv.com/movies/684798/john-mcenroe-in-the-realm-of-perfection?utm_source=web_share&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=copy_link&utm_content=title_detail_page Valarie Camillo interview on Served - https://youtu.be/Fohc1DwBZ3g?si=jvafJiPWOTwrizw3 Chapters: 00:00 Intro and movie chat 07:09 Part 1 - End of Year Finals - Why should you care 11:45 Does the WTA and ATP Finals Structure make it hard to promote? 23:20 Location, Location and how important its is to the Finals 27:14 How would we fix the End of Year Finals 33:40 Who is in and who is out of the Finals? 42:52 Part 2 - The Tennis News of the Week 43:20 Sonay Kartal and Maja Chawalinska played the perfect final 47:32 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Rafa Jodar play the all Spanish Final 55:33 Rafa Jodar's villain origin story 01:04:49 The Six King Slam is off and Alcaraz, Djokovic and Fritz are not taking the week off 01:07:12 Joao Fonseca and Eva Lys are the recent players to end their season early 01:09:29 Part 3 - This Week in Tennis 01:14:48 A Bit of College Tennis Drama 01:19:16 Outro 💬 Thank you for Listening. Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you. For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online: Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - [email protected] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast X: https://x.com/groundpasspod About Us: Ground Pass is a tennis podcast for the rest of us. Hosted by Anastasia Folorunso and Nick Carter, it breaks down the pro tour for casual fans and anyone new to the sport, no jargon, no gatekeeping. From Grand Slam drama to the players you should know, we make tennis easy to follow and fun to obsess over. Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tennis Rules can feel so subjective depending on the tournament or the umpire in the chair. Coco Guaff and Daniil Medvedev bore the brunt of these rules last week in different ways that could have been avoided. Check out our Newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com This week on the podcast we are looking into two tennis rules that dominated the headlines last week. Video Review and Ball Abuse violations were back in the headlines and not for the right reasons. Tennis rules can seem either obscure or subjective which doesn’t seem ideal in a sport where things normally land in the black-or-white column; here we had many shades of gray. Nick and Anastasia get into these rules, what they are, how they are implemented and if more clarity is needed. We also get into Qinwen Zheng winning the China Open, Novak Djokovic surviving, Jannik Sinner ending his season which means Zverev ends the year as number 1 and does having fun make Carlos Alcaraz unstoppable? Chapters 00:00 Intro 03:51 Part 1 - Know the Rules - How tennis complicates itself 04:41 Video review in Tennis and how it changed in 2026 06:53 The Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev Case 11:39 The Coco Gauff v Sun Xinran Case 18:58 The fallout of the Gauff incident 26:58 Ball abuse rule and recent incidents 39:52 Part 2: The News - Qinwen Zheng wins in Beijing 45:36 Mirra Andreeva is the New World no. 3 48:41 Carlos Alcaraz is back with a mustache 52:25 Survive and Advance the Novak Djokovic story 54:58 Jannik Sinner is out for the season 59:21 Players of the fortnight - Arthur Gea and Nikola Bartunkova 01:04:12 Upcoming tournaments and local events 01:06:22 Outro Links: Ground Pass Newsletter on Substack - https://groundpass.substack.comEurovision song (its real!!!) Moustache (France) 2014 - https://youtu.be/hWJFfnHNOWI?si=rp9y0tGo31NfatKK 💬 Thank you for Listening. Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you. For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online: Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - [email protected] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast X: https://x.com/groundpasspod About Us: Ground Pass is a tennis podcast for the rest of us. Hosted by Anastasia Folorunso and Nick Carter, it breaks down the pro tour for casual fans and anyone new to the sport, no jargon, no gatekeeping. From Grand Slam drama to the players you should know, we make tennis easy to follow and fun to obsess over. Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Laver Cup brought the fun back into tennis this week with Carlos Alcaraz in full highlight reel form. And Singapore delivered on the tennis storylines, concussions and all. My Davis Cup picks - https://youtu.be/WnDw9_XLXao?si=ucBtnKACae_0BMT6 Laver Cup has single handedly gotten me excited again about the ATP tour and upcoming events in Tokyo and Beijing. Team Europe took the crown but Team World Captain Andre Agassi brought the vibes. And on the WTA Leylah Fernandez does what she does during the Asian Swing, win titles. But the real story was of Tatiana Prozorova and a possible concussion. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and podcast anniversary 02:57 Discussion on tennis TV subscriptions and coverage 07:31 Changes in tennis broadcasting and accessibility 09:39 Ground Pass newsletter and tennis history corner 11:34 Laver Cup overview and format analysis 14:25 Laver Cup as a rival to traditional team events 17:20 Player interactions and behind-the-scenes moments 22:06 Andre Agassi is a gift to Laver Cup 25:03 Understanding the Asian Swing 26:44 Leylah Fernandez wins Singapore but Tatiana Prozorova was the story 34:10 Head injury protocols and player safety 36:04 WTA Doubles race is getting fun 41:31 Davis Cup and team USA strategy 45:37 Player selection and team strategy in Davis Cup 51:57 Billie Jean King Cup results and analysis 54:26 Arthur Fils playing qualies in Tokyo 56:31 Jannik Sinner might need knee surgery 59:48 Season overview and player storylines 01:03:08 What's next in tennis: Beijing, Tokyo, and Asian Games 01:08:05 Player motivation and the mental reset in tennis 01:10:16 Outro - send us your questions Links: • Ground Pass Newsletter on Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com 💬 Thank you for Listening. Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you. For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online: Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - [email protected] Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast X: https://x.com/groundpasspod About Us: Ground Pass is a tennis podcast for the rest of us. Hosted by Anastasia Folorunso and Nick Carter, it breaks down the pro tour for casual fans and anyone new to the sport, no jargon, no gatekeeping. From Grand Slam drama to the players you should know, we make tennis easy to follow and fun to obsess over. Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For the second year in a row Team USA has not made the Final 8 of the Davis Cup, even with top players Ben Shelton and Learner Tien on the team. Houston we have a problem. Missed our other US Open Recap? Find it here - https://youtu.be/P85BFnvKBUU?si=ey4D07SM-8g8tsBl  Its was a slow week, sort of, post US Open but we still has the WTA in Guadalajara and Sao Paolo with Iva Jovic trying to defend her title in Mexico. And the Davis Cup took over the ATP tour. I build my perfect US Davis Cup team, let me know what you think. Also some news updates on what’s next for Jack Draper, Jannik Sinner and more. Chapters 00:29 Introduction and Episode Overview 02:05 Iva Jovic Defends her Guadalajara title 07:27 The US has a Davis Cup problem 16:43 Ground Pass US Davis Cup Team 22:09 Draper out for the season and questions about Sinner 27:33 Up Next on Tour 33:05 Outro Links: Ground Pass Newsletter on Substack - https://groundpass.substack.comHolger Rune mini doc - https://youtu.be/JMEui5IuhaI?si=PRlF45-WFBOkwB2x  💬 Thank you for Listening. Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you. For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod About Us: Ground Pass is a tennis podcast for the rest of us. Hosted by Anastasia Folorunso and Nick Carter, it breaks down the pro tour for casual fans and anyone new to the sport, no jargon, no gatekeeping. From Grand Slam drama to the players you should know, we make tennis easy to follow and fun to obsess over. Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US Open 2026 is finally over and some of us are happy about that. Find out who in our US Open Recap. Missed our other US Open Shows? Find them here - https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZEVwWfsDIfA&si=kFbIKK47ljI2M01w  Elena Rybakina and Alexander Zverev are the US Open Champions no one saw coming and so ends the most unpredictable Grand Slam season. Anastasia and Nick are joined by Lucy, of Lucy Deuce, to look back at this US Open. Does Aryna Sabalenka have a problem? Did Ben Shelton have a chance at the title? Were the influencers really a problem? We answer all those questions and more. Chapters 00:00 Introduction: The Depth of the WTA Top Ten 03:52 Elena Rybakina wins twice and does Aryna Sabalenka have a problem? 19:31 Did Ben Shelton have a chance against Alexander Zverev? 30:43 A look back at all the slam winners of 2026 37:48 Review of the US Open on TV 51:01 The biggest stories from this US Open 51:31 The Influencers were not the problem 56:03 Nick solves the tennis 5 sets issue! 01:04:24 The US Open Tickets are too damn high 01:08:14 Outro Links: Shop the Ground Pass Hat - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Lucy Deuce - https://www.instagram.com/lucyydeuce?stkn=MWM2MGVrZDhsbjd1cA== 💬 Thank you for Listening. Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you. For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod About Us: Ground Pass is a tennis podcast for the rest of us. Hosted by Anastasia Folorunso and Nick Carter, it breaks down the pro tour for casual fans and anyone new to the sport, no jargon, no gatekeeping. From Grand Slam drama to the players you should know, we make tennis easy to follow and fun to obsess over. Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ben Shelton beat Frances Tiafoe and Alexander Zverev beat Karen Khachanov to set the men's final. Aryna Sabalenka went through Jessica Pegula and Elena Rybakina came through Coco Gauff to set the women's. Ian joins Anastasia to recap the quarterfinals and semifinals, including Shelton's 3:33 a.m. win over Carlos Alcaraz, Khachanov's run past Alexander Blockx, and Tiafoe and Alex Michelsen at the net. They also get into the walkouts, how much fans are told about the players on court, and both finals. Recorded before the women's and men's finals. Chapters 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 02:13 US Open atmosphere and player performances 04:14 Behind the scenes: industry events, brand activations, and media coverage 07:15 The first week and fan engagement 12:18 Quarterfinal recap and standout moments 20:15 Semifinal matchups and player form 30:15 Walkouts and match build-up 40:24 Fan knowledge and media representation 50:19 Final thoughts on the men's and women's finals Links: Shop the Ground Pass Hat - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Ojai Tennis Shop - https://theojai.net/merch/ UTR Next Gen account - https://www.instagram.com/utrnextgen/ 💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Qinwen Zheng came back from 5-0 down for the second straight match, Tiafoe remains undefeated on Armstrong, and the ticket market at the US Open is in free fall. US Open Round 3 Recap: https://youtu.be/P0PYAjyTDbE?si=BlBESdwZntSxyx6e  Anastasia and Ian go through Round 4 at the US Open: Zheng's back to back comebacks, why the reigning Wimbledon champion still walks the grounds unnoticed, Sabalenka gets past Taylor Townsend, Mirra Andreeva's keeps her composure, Coco Gauff's looks like she is winning the US open, Emma Navarro's triumphant return, Frances Tiafoe's undefeated record on Louis Armstrong, Alex Michelsen's run, and Alexander Blockx as the last of the "Baby Gen" still in the draw. Then Anastasia reports from the grounds on the Labor Day weekend crowd and what tickets were actually selling for, before both quarterfinal previews. Chapters 00:00 Intro 04:01 Qinwen Zheng is the Comeback Queen 09:03 Wimbledon Champion Linda Noskova still goes unnoticed 16:59 Sabalenka's uneventful match against Taylor Townsend 19:06 A composed Mirra Andreeva could be dangerous 22:34 Coco Gauff still looks good 24:49 Emma Navarro's Return and Personal Story 28:29 Frances Tiafoe undefeated on Louis Armstrong 33:03 Alex Michelsen is on a heater 35:34 Alexander Blockx the last baby gen standing 38:57 Labor Day Weekend Vibe and Ticket Market Insights 47:28 Women's Quarterfinals and Predictions 51:10 Men's Quarterfinals Preview and Key Matchups 53:43 Outro Links US Open Guide - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/us-open-guide Linda Noskova Wimbledon Interviews: post Wimbledon 4th round - https://youtu.be/UayoDm-du6A?is=fCSd6Q0bfUlmFHLP post Wimbledon Semis round - https://youtu.be/UayoDm-du6A?is=fCSd6Q0bfUlmFHLPTaylor Townsend’s walk out - https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc87nzHlKBG/?img_index=1&stkn=Y2Q3bWNzOXZtaTdjGround Pass Newsletter on Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com 💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Eala and Jović opened the Ashe night session while Naomi Osaka played Armstrong. We recap US Open round three from the grounds, on the worst day for the Americans. ▶ Round 2 Recap: https://youtu.be/9rBDwwJCLXw?si=3ELLEmErZaPO5uTW  Anastasia is joined in this episode by Ava Wallace of The Athletic and Blair Henley co-host of the Love All podcast and On Court Presenter at the US Open on the recap. In this episode: - The Ashe night session call: Eala vs Jović in the opening slot, Osaka on Armstrong - Madison Keys in press after the Zheng comeback, and what she said about needing to change something. - Taylor Townsend's post-match interview, the language that made it to air, and Townsend on coming in scared and defending a big points haul. Townsend's fourth round preview and her fit plan for the walk-on. - Taylor Fritz out, and the American men's drought question - Tsitsipas and Medvedev, and finding form this late in the year. - Alexander Blockx over Cobolli on Armstrong, from a set down. - A doubles upset from a collegiate wildcard pair. - Frances Tiafoe on Armstrong and where the real tennis fans sit. - The night session ground pass sold only at the gate, and what we still need to confirm about it. Chapters 00:00 Intro - Round 3 Recap from the grounds 01:44 Just watching Tennis 12:45 Blair Henley on Louis Armstrong vibes and Taylor Townsend 24:24 Ava Wallace on Madison Keys and Taylor Fritz 44:15 Hot Tip for Cheap US Open tickets 41:24 Alex Eala and Iva Jovic recap 44:44 Outro Links US Open Guide - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/us-open-guide Taylor Townsend’s 4th round match look - https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcdsjn4gVSE/?igsi=MWdlMTBhNng4aDAxMQ==Ground Pass Newsletter on Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com 💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Links US Open Guide - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/us-open-guide  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Round two recap with Ian Mondul. The influencer debate at Ashe, the prediction market partnership, Sabalenka's press conferences, and the outside courts. Watch next: US Open Round One Recap → https://youtu.be/2HuFYysvopo?si=cNp4QuN-YnELAvKD  Anastasia and Ian Mondul recap round two at the US Open. They split on the influencer conversation coming out of the grounds, and land in the same place on the tournament's prediction market partnership. Also covered: Sabalenka's press conferences, the race for world number one, Gauff and Badosa, and why the outside courts are the best ticket on the grounds. Chapters 00:30 Intro 09:20 US Open Round 2 Recap - Upsets on the Mens side 18:52 US Men have a great opportunity 25:10 Aryna Sabalenka is an edgy Tiger 30:59 Coco Guaff is a strong contender 33:10 Qinwen Zheng is back! 35:47 Stadium 17 brings the vibes 37:17 Around the Grounds of the US Open 37:53 Influencer US Open take over 49:28 The US Open gets into the prediction market 53:46 Apparel chat with Ian coming soon 56:50 Round 3 Matches to watch 01:03:43 Outro Links US Open Guide - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/us-open-guide  💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Djokovic loses a first round at a major for the first time in twenty years, Alcaraz returns from a wrist injury, and Monfils wins on his fortieth birthday. A Look at the new Arthur Ashe: https://youtu.be/tn-V6veuRrY?si=YhT4wT-m9RX0_1vD  First round recap after three days of rain. We cover Djokovic's loss and what it looked like from the press seats, Alcaraz back on court and the Nike kit, Gauff's start and the four way race for world number one, Pegula on the first Sunday, Fils going out to Tsitsipas, and Monfils on Louis Armstrong. Second half gets into the crowded grounds videos and what they leave out, the influencer backlash and where it's actually coming from, and the tournament's new prediction market partner. Chapters 00:00 US Open Round One Recap 03:07 Weather Impact on the Tournament 05:53 Voice Memo from Winston Salem 09:00 Novak Djokovic's Shocking Loss 11:50 Carlos Alcaraz's Impressive Return 14:58 Coco Gauff's Strong Performance 17:59 Players' Adaptation to Schedule Changes 31:59 Match Play Dynamics and Player Preferences 33:37 Upsets and Surprises: The US Open First Round 35:54 The Return of Monfils and His Impact 39:28 Emerging Talents and First Round Highlights 44:06 Tournament Vibes: Crowds and Influencer Culture 51:01 Late Night Matches and Their Implications 58:47 Betting Partnerships and Their Controversies Links: Buse Winston Salem video - https://www.instagram.com/reel/Dcdsjn4gVSE/?igsi=MWdlMTBhNng4aDAxMQ==Ground Pass On Site - US Open Day 1 - https://groundpass.substack.com/p/ground-pass-on-site-us-open-2026 💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is Carlos Alcaraz ready? What first round matches are we excited for? Who are the qualifiers to watch? And how do you actually navigate the US Open on Day 1? Christian of Christian's Court and I answer your questions in our US Open preview. We recorded this on the grounds the night before the main draw, so you'll hear the planes. It's also our first Grand Slam as credentialed media, and we spend some time on how strange and good that feels after years of coming here as fans. Then we get into it. There's a first round upset I'm fully committed to, a case for Robin Montgomery reaching the second week, thoughts on Arthur Fils after the biggest win of his career, and Venus under the lights in front of the only crowd that can really change a match. We finish with our honest grounds tips, including the ground pass trick that gets you better seats than you'd expect. See you out there all tournament. Chapters 00:00 Intro 04:00 Christian's Serena Wiliams racket story 09:00 We need teams of our own 10:00 Our first slam as credentialed media 13:00 Men's draw: the first rounders we want 14:00 Robin Montgomery and the Liberty kit 16:00 Women's draw and the qualifiers to watch 21:00 Arthur Fils after Cincinnati 22:00 The official Alcaraz readiness indicator 23:00 The upset we're calling 26:00 Venus Willims vs Kenin and the New York crowd 30:00 Lucky losers and wild cards 32:00 How to do Day 1 on the grounds 34:00 Thank you and what's next Links: Camila Osorio on Off Season - https://youtu.be/8UTohuZL-oY?si=n7QkqWExj_NGWNr7 Whats new in Arthur Ashe - https://youtu.be/tn-V6veuRrY?si=fi_FFfMHngfvQEGr  💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two 1000s ran back to back with no gap, so this episode is a two-parter. We recorded it during the Cincinnati men's final, with the score running underneath us the whole time. Act one is Cincinnati. Arthur Fils and Frances Tiafoe met in the first ATP Masters 1000 final between two Black players. Anastasia finally tells the story of how the King of New York nickname started on Court 12 in 2023 and how it got away from her. Nick makes the case for Sara Bejlek, who is twenty, left-handed, and beat three major champions on her way to the semifinals. And we get into Brandon Nakashima, who made a final in January, got forgotten, then made two more deep runs in three weeks. Act two is New York. Jannik Sinner is out. Jack Draper is out. Carlos Alcaraz is back from a wrist injury and playing mixed doubles with Serena Williams. And Fan Week starts Monday, which is free, and which has quietly become the entire US Open for a lot of fans who cannot afford the main draw anymore. We also cover Kei Nishikori's last US Open, who to watch in qualifying, what a grounds pass actually costs now, and which ESPN tier gets you the match you want instead of the one a network picked for you. ▶ Our US Open Guide - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/us-open-guide Chapters: 00:15 Introduction 03:01 Why Arthur Fils is the King of New York 06:13 Cincinnati Open mini recap 08:21 Serena Williams and Venus Williams back playing doubles 11:09 Sara Bejlek reemerges 13:51 Brandon Nakashima back on the rise 16:08 A look at the Cincinnati Men's finalists 19:55 A look at the Cincinnati Women's Finalists 29:45 The US Open Starts Now 34:19 Qualifiers to watch at the US Open 40:00 Top names in US Open Mixed Doubles 43:08 Jack Draper and Jannik Sinner out of the US Open 48:30 Our US Open Guide is Live 💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Coco Gauff shouted out Christian's Court in a press conference this week, and that moment says a lot about who tennis lets in and who is actually growing it. Links: Send us a voice memo - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/voice-memo Christian’s response to Coco Gauff - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbsGM4zOUTt/?igsh=MXB0b3NsMzRiZTdudA==Christian’s article on Anisimova - https://www.si.com/onsi/serve/news/why-anisimova-reunited-with-her-coach-after-brief-split Christian is in Toronto for the Canadian Open and he joins the podcast to give us the on the ground feels of the tournament in Toronto. Eala-mania is in full effect. The tournament is selling branded chicken adobo and the Filipino fans packed the stands bring the best vibes at a tennis tournament he has ever seen. We talk about Alex Eala’s run at the Canadian Open, Coco Gauff’s form and that moment in her press conference that has changed things for all of us new media creators in tennis. Anisimova coaching changes and Diana Schnaider and Naomi Osaka looking good. On the men's side in Montreal: no Sinner, no Alcaraz, no Djokovic, and a real question about whether the two-week Masters format is worth what it's costing. Plus a Ground Pass exclusive with Taylor Townsend on why she entered singles only in Canada, and a look at our conversation with Matt Futterman on why he called tennis The Cruelest Game. The full Futterman interview is on Substack tomorrow: https://groundpass.substack.com/?utm_campaign=profile_chips Chapters: 00:00 Welcome Christian's Court to the podcast 05:15 How the Canadian Open is structured 11:51 Alex Eala takes over Canada and their food court 17:17 Alex Eala keeps winning 29:19 Gauff, Anisimova, the rest of the WTA tour 44:56 The ATP in disarray, but is it really? 01:03:00 The WTA new Media deal 💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Alex Eala won the DC Open by going through Qinwen Zheng, Leylah Fernandez, Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, and Jessica Pegula, and became the first Filipino player to win a WTA singles title. This one is a solo pod, recorded late after a work day, about what that week actually looked like from the ground. Inside: the TikTok about Eala's Miami run that started This Week in Tennis, the strange gap between a huge fanbase and a thin trophy case, the rain delay that wiped a set and handed her a clean slate on Monday, and Pegula's very generous explanation of why that slow lefty serve is so hard to attack. Then the bigger argument. The Tennis Channel desk sitting out in the open, an hour of Naomi Osaka just hanging out with fans, an ice cream truck a few feet away, and what that says about where the sport feels healthiest right now. Plus Fritz on the safety break, Rafa Jódar on the weekly reset, and the Canada attendance question. Also, Ground Pass is credentialed at the US Open. That happened because of weeks like this one. Links: Ground Pass on Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com/ - Ground Pass Shop: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop - Jessica Pegula's final press conference: https://youtu.be/WfBxCkkasok?si=-AaRA6-RZozkgki0 - PTPA article: https://awfulannouncing.com/tennis/ptpa-threatens-defamation-lawsuit-andy-roddick-served.html Chapters 00:00 Alex Eala wins the DC Open 06:30 The TikTok that started This Week in Tennis 09:20 "Who's this girl?" and the fandom question 13:10 Head down, no celebrating, until the handshake 14:20 Eala on how steep it gets at the top 18:20 The rain reset and a brand new match 21:40 Pegula explains why the slow lefty serve works 28:40 Taylor Fritz on the safety break 31:40 Rafa Jódar on resetting after every week 33:40 Ground Pass is credentialed at the US Open 35:20 Just fix the bathrooms 39:40 The Osaka cookout 43:00 The PTPA story someone should report 44:40 Sinner, Djokovic, and the Canada question 💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are live from the DC Open. The only tournament where you can record a podcast in the middle of the grounds and a player might pull up in the background. Watch our first dispatch from the grounds: https://youtu.be/xbFo_LAHqkc?si=HlCS40XTU3EIjIfR   Anastasia and Ava are on the grounds in Washington, credential mics on and with players walking by in the background. This one covers why DC's crowd is unlike anywhere else on tour, the case for combined events, Venus Williams one year after her comeback, Andy Murray showing up early to hit with Jack Draper, and the doubles story the tour would rather not talk about. Links: Pick up your Summer shirt here - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Chapters: 00:00 Intro - Live from DC 03:11 A Case for Combined events 05:40 The only crowd on tour that looks like this 08:45 Add the DC Open to your must visit list 13:18 A summer gem of a tournament 14:42 Venus Williams, one year later 17:24 Andy Murray really missed tennis 26:14 The doubles crisis 29:09 Singles vs doubles, a beef is brewing 💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment  Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop  Where You can Find us Online: Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com  Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com  Email - [email protected]  Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass  Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast  X: https://x.com/groundpasspod Disclaimer: This video does not contain a paid for advertisement. PR samples are denoted by the term ‘ad - gifted’. Links containing ad affiliate links are denoted by a '*'. This means that if you click on an affiliate link, go through to the retailer and purchase an item, we will receive a small percentage of your purchase. Check out our website for a full disclaimer: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/about  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.