Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 1, 2026 49 min

Nobody on Jeopardy Got This Tennis Question: Davis Cup and Team Events, Explained

Season 3, Episode 52

Show notes

A Jeopardy tennis category had one clue nobody could answer, and it was about Davis Cup. Nick plays along with every question, and then we read a listener DM that sums up why this episode exists: a fan who watches nearly every WTA event still has no idea when Davis Cup, Billie Jean King Cup, or United Cup happen, what they’re for, or how they work.

So we explain it. Where Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup started, why players take part with no prize money or ranking points, the Olympic rule that requires players to show up for their countries, how the qualifiers and Finals fit into the calendar, and where you can watch, including free streams on YouTube. Anastasia makes the case for treating team tennis like the World Cup, with South Korea’s run to the Davis Cup Final 8 as a great place to start. Nick explains who’s responsible for promoting these events and how he’d change it. We finish with United Cup, Laver Cup, World Team Tennis, and why team events have the best doubles.

In part two: Daniil Medvedev’s first-ever title defense, Elena Rybakina back on top in Ningbo, Lorenzo Musetti’s win over Taylor Fritz, and Katerina Siniakova’s singles title. Then we look ahead to Tokyo, Venus Williams in Guangzhou, and the first rounds in Vienna and Basel, plus why the 500s might be the best watch on the calendar right now.

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

08:35 Part 1: Exploring the Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup

16:25 Reasons Players Participate in Team Events

19:19 Challenges of Awareness and Broadcasting

27:38 The Importance of Team Events in Tennis

30:59 Challenges in Promoting Davis Cup and Billie Jean King Cup

36:43 United Cup might be the best Team Tennis Event

40:28 Part 2: Medvedev and Rybakina defend titles for the first time

46:07 Lorenzo Musetti wins only his 4th title, another Fritz fumble

48:35 Siniakova is not only a Doubles GOAT

50:52 This Week in Tennis the 500s take over - Alcaraz, Zverev, Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka

Links:

• Past Episode on Davis Cup - https://youtu.be/3manT7eO9-U?si=4hp9O4fcacoK4Cld
• Past Episode on United Cup - https://youtu.be/9qGQFVL0AUA?si=cRvgdM0FEG9gMQLy
• Past Episode on Laver Cup (Clip) - https://youtu.be/7o6aEW-n4ek?si=VavlHOelUKv5tvTI
• Past Episode on Laver Cup - https://youtu.be/wW4ifmHIyn8?si=WVGk8fAk7xcQFFNP

💬 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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 26, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Tennis Has a Super Bowl. Why Doesn’t It Feel Like One?

Season 3, Episode 51

Show notes

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-perfectionhttps://groundpass.substack.com
• 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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 19, 2026 1 hr 21 min

Coco Gauff Was Right. Medvedev Was Defaulted. Are Tennis Rules Fair?

Season 3, Episode 50

Show notes

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.com
• Eurovision 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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 12, 2026 1 hr 7 min

Carlos Alcaraz loves Laver Cup and Leylah Fernandez keeps winning in Asia

Season 3, Episode 49

Show notes

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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 28, 2026 1 hr 12 min

Team USA Davis Cup disappointment and a quiet tennis week

Season 3, Episode 48

Show notes

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.com
• Holger 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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 22, 2026 34 min

US Open Recap - The Winners, Losers and were the influencers really a problem?

Season 3, Episode 47

Show notes

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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 15, 2026 1 hr 10 min

US Open 2026: Shelton vs Zverev, Sabalenka vs Rybakina, and How We Got Here

Season 3, Episode 46

Show notes

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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 12, 2026 1 hr 10 min

US Open Round 4 - Comebacks, Armstrong, and the US Open Ticket Market

Season 3, Episode 45

Show notes

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=fCSd6Q0bfUlmFHLP
• Taylor Townsend’s walk out - https://www.instagram.com/p/Dc87nzHlKBG/?img_index=1&stkn=Y2Q3bWNzOXZtaTdj
• 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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 8, 2026 55 min

US Open Round Three: Ashe, Armstrong, and Who Gets Moved

Season 3, Episode 44

Show notes

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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 6, 2026 49 min

US Open Round Two: The Influencer Debate, Prediction Markets, and Court 17 (with Ian Mondul)

Season 3, Episode 43

Show notes

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

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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

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Sep 4, 2026 1 hr 5 min

Djokovic Is Out, Alcaraz Is Back (US Open First Round, On Site)

Season 3, Episode 42

Show notes

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

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Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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

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Sep 4, 2026 1 hr 1 min

US Open 2026 Preview "LIVE" from the Grounds - with Christian's Court

Season 3, Episode 41

Show notes

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

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Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

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Where You can Find us Online:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 30, 2026 35 min

Cincinnati Made History, and the US Open is here

Season 3, Episode 40

Show notes

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

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Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop

Where You can Find us Online:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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

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Aug 24, 2026 55 min

The People Growing Tennis (with Christian of Christian's Court)

Season 3, Episode 39

Show notes

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/
• 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/

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

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Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

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Where You can Find us Online:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 10, 2026 1 hr 14 min

Alex Eala Beat Five Champions and DC Proved a Point

Season 3, Episode 38

Show notes

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

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Where You can Find us Online:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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

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Aug 4, 2026 49 min

Live from the DC Open, the Most Fun Week in Tennis (with Ava)

Season 3, Episode 37

Show notes

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

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Where You can Find us Online:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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

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Jul 27, 2026 34 min

Tennis Has a Storytelling Problem (ft. Ryan Ng of Forty Love Studio)

Season 3, Episode 36

Show notes

Nobody becomes a tennis fan from a highlight reel. This week, Ryan Ng of 40 Love Studio joins Anastasia to talk about the storytelling gap in tennis: the quirky grassroots characters going uncaptured, the six years Ryan spent off the court after the yips took his forehand, and the almost-9-million-view video that started with a friend asking why tennis scoring has a point called love. Plus a quick spin through the week: Tsitsipas wins Gstaad and earns a Lost Boys list revisit, Bernard Tomic and his devoted Bernies, and the ATP's reported plan to shrink doubles, which raises the question this whole episode is about. Do you grow a sport by cutting the field, or by telling the story?

Links:

• Pick up your Summer shirt here - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop
• Lost Boys - https://youtu.be/9maE1Nb8e3o?si=6TmlZx-C7i9KgTfe
• Bernard Tomic Wiki - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernard_Tomic
• Bernard Tomic acceptance speech - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbAL2ZmNpMT/
• Bernard Tomic Ode to Tomic - https://www.instagram.com/p/DbAEUqzADB4/
• Casper Ruud’s Wedding video - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZuzslTD-lr/
• Forty Love Studio - https://www.instagram.com/fortylovestudio
• OFF SEASON: DALLAS - https://youtu.be/uSvdHBs0bPM?si=PDVLrtCDT1bqR-7M

Chapters:

00:00 Intro

02:35 A Quiet Tennis Week on Purpose

04:07 Tsitsipas wins a tournament

07:40 Bernard Tomic and his Fans

10:00 Tennis Wedding Week

11:34 The Tennis Royal Wedding - Tommy Paul and Paige Lorenze

13:19 The Other Weddings

14:30 Carlos Alcaraz at the World Cup

15:54 Interview with Ryan Ng of Forty Love Studio

39:57 The Importance of Storytelling in Tennis

44:04 Excitement for the DC Open

47:14 Closing Thoughts and Future Plans

💬 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:

Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social

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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 20, 2026 47 min

Winning Wimbledon, and Still Being Invisible

Season 3, Episode 35

Show notes

Linda Noskova won Wimbledon, and we couldn't name a single storyline for her. Alex Eala and Coco Gauff lost and stayed everywhere. This week we sit with the gap between results and recognition: how a champion can go unnoticed, how one outfit can outrun a match, and why the players worth knowing sometimes slip right past casual fans. Plus the last Brit standing, a shakeup on the Lost Boys list, and the WTA Finals landing somewhere you can actually afford. If tennis fame confuses you, this one's for you.

Links:

• Pick up your Summer shirt here - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop
• Interview with Naomi Osaka’s creative director - https://open.substack.com/pub/groundpass/p/how-naomi-osakas-kill-bill-kimono?r=47h9qh
• Ellie Majelly on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elliemajelly
• Tournament guide link - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/tournament-guides

Chapters

00:00 Intro - and twinning accidentally

02:02 Wimbledon Recap - starting with an apology

03:07 Alex Eala has the best fans and Bad Bunny Concerts

08:45 Naomi Osaka's breakout Wimbledon

12:53 Iva Jovic is baby Pegula

20:13 Coco Gauff v Muchova was the best match

22:02 Who is Linda Noskova?

34:10 Was the Men's tournament a dud

35:18 Athur Fery's fairytale run

39:29 Felix Auger-Aliassime on the rise

46:18 Jannik Sinner Wins Wimbledon

51:54 Cruz Hewitt and Junior tennis

55:06 Hall of Fame Open - James Watt wins in doubles

57:17 WTA Finals coming to Indian Wells

59:40 Coming up next on Ground Pass

01:05:20 Whoops - Player of the Fortnight!!!!

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Want to Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

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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 https://acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jul 14, 2026 1 hr 13 min

Alex Eala Took Out Swiatek and Took Over Wimbledon (Round Three)

Season 3, Episode 34

Show notes

Alex Eala beat Iga Swiatek, hit the Wimbledon rocket ship, and became the story of Round Three. Ava was on the grounds to watch it happen. Anastasia was catching the ESPN version from a 101 degree New York, where the broadcast was still busy with Serena.

That gap is the episode. Because while the Serena updates ran the home feed, the real breakout was a 20 year old who plays with no fear at all. The two of them dig into why Eala is not a fluke (she nearly beat Krejcikova here last year), why the Swiatek win was smart rather than lucky, and the bigger thing underneath it: a fearless young generation taking grass while the established stars problem solve inside their own heads. It feels like a torch changing hands. Plus the 7:15 roof rule that quietly reshapes every night match, and the single most Wimbledon crowd moment of the week.

It opens with Eala in one line, emotional and fierce at once, and goes from there.

Links:

• Buy the last hat here - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop/p/ground-pass-tennis-hat
• Tournament guide link - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/wimbledon-guide

Chapters:

00:01 Weather and Wimbledon Vibes

03:20 Wimbledon Round Three Recap

05:41 Serena Williams: The Ongoing Story

15:14 Alex Eala defeats Iga Swiatek at Wimbledon

18:49 Jasmine Paolini smiling again at Wimbledon

19:58 Roman Safiullin sneaking through the Wimbledon draw

22:32 American Players Rising on Grass

26:28 Taylor Fritz's Chaotic Match and Pressure

28:43 Iga Swiatek's Forehand and Mental Challenges

31:57 Exciting Fourth Round Matches Ahead

36:15 Wimbledon vs. US Open

40:26 Outro

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