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Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast
Grass Court Shifts, Citi Open Preview & the US Open Mixed Doubles Plot Twist
Grass season doesn’t wait for anyone. Anastasia and Nick break down the biggest results from the past two weeks — including titles for Marketa Vondrousova, Alexander Bublik, and Carlos Alcaraz — and why the transition from clay to grass is one of the most unpredictable stretches on tour. They also dive into Wimbledon qualifying, the rise of McCartney Kessler, and the soon-to-be-iconic US Open Mixed Doubles Championship entry list (yes, Alcaraz & Raducanu). Plus: a special interview with Citi Open chairman Mark Ein on what makes DC one of the best tournaments of the summer.
Links:
- Highlight of Aryna/Elena match in Berlin - https://youtu.be/PpL6L7TIDDQ?si=vO2iWwIagUvD7WYp
- Link to Halle Trophy Ceremony - https://youtube.com/shorts/oCPlG-C2tLU?si=kvEqOX3MmXYT7WgS
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
04:39 Grass Court Season and the complications it brings
12:20 Results and Stories from this week
34:15 Other News: US Open Mixed Doubles Entry List
52:07 Petra Kvitova announces retirement
54:40 Jannik Sinner releases a song with Andrea Bocelli
56:54 Interview with Mark Ein chairman of Mubadala Citi DC Open
01:29:20 What's coming up Next
01:35:44 Players of the Fortnight
01:40:59 Outro
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27. Mirra Andreeva fufils her potential and Sasha Zverev tries to rewrite his story
01:09:43||Season 3, Ep. 27Mirra Andreeva and Sasha Zverev have changed their storylines with Grand Slam wins at this Roland Garros.▶ Watch next: OFF SEASON, Episode 7 — https://youtu.be/DBEQ8JbqyMA?si=-B8rgYbIId5eGxaI For Andreeva this could be the beginning of many more and for Zverev he can say he at least won one. We also go through the other winners at Roland Garros this year and our favourite moments from the tournaments.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Screening Experience06:22 Women's Final: Mirra Andreeva's Unexpected Victory24:27 Men's Final: Zverev's Journey and Challenges43:10 Other Results from Roland Garros48:05 Wheelchair Tennis Highlights49:53 Brazil already has a replacement for Joao Fonseca52:15 Memorable Moments from Roland Garros01:01:27 Players of the Fortnight01:09:15 Outro💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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
26. It will be life changing for anyone who wins Roland Garros
01:00:09||Season 3, Ep. 26The Finals are set between Mirra Andreeva and Maja Chwalinska & Alexandar Zverev and Flavio Cobolli. WE had such fun stories to get here.▶ Watch next: OFF SEASON, Episode 7 — https://youtu.be/DBEQ8JbqyMA?si=-B8rgYbIId5eGxaI Chapters:00:00 Germaphobia and Tournament Withdrawals03:09 Aryna doesn't like the windy08:46 Jakub Mensik - the forgotten Next Gen15:28 Semifinal Review16:29 Zverev's Pressure and Past Controversies30:12 Cobolli could rewrite history36:58 Maja the story of the tournament43:39 Mirra's Moment48:14 Flavio Caboli's Heartwarming Gesture50:31 Some Doubles news52:24 Serena Williams to play Berlin💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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
25. Roland Garros Week 1 Recap - Sinner, Gauff, Djokovic Out so who is in?
01:01:18||Season 3, Ep. 25Mid way through Roland Garros 2026 and this one is already for the history books. The quarterfinals are set. Its anybodies tournament.▶ Watch next: OFF SEASON, Episode 7 — https://youtu.be/DBEQ8JbqyMA?si=-B8rgYbIId5eGxaI Chapters:00:00 Intro02:05 Roland Garros Tournament Overview05:00 Next Gen Players and Tournament Dynamics09:55 Sinner's Exit and Its Impact14:21 Emerging Talents and Their Potential19:26 The Confidence of the New Generation33:00 Rising Stars: The Next Generation of Tennis38:26 The Heat of Competition: Player Resilience and Challenges38:45 Shocking Exits: The Women's Draw Unfolds43:55 Emerging Contenders: New Faces in Women's Tennis48:59 Heartwarming Stories: Breakthroughs and Comebacks54:36 Grass Court Season: Transitioning to a New Surface💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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
24. Roland Garros 2026 Preview: One Half of the Draw Is Doing All the Work
01:09:19||Season 3, Ep. 24The draw is out, Paris is heating up, and Ground Pass is back with a full Roland Garros 2026 preview. Anastasia and Nick break down a lopsided men's draw where most of the drama lives in the bottom half, a wide-open women's draw with at least fifteen real title contenders, and the section of the bracket where Iga Świątek and Novak Djokovic both drew the worst possible neighborhoods.We get into Carlos Alcaraz's grass-season pullout (and yes, that Vanity Fair cover), the players we're watching from the top of the field down to the qualifiers, the wild card storyline we've been tracking all year in Akasha Urhobo, and the first-round matches we're refusing to miss, including a bold upset call on Aryna Sabalenka in round one.Plus: dates for our McCarran Park screenings, how to join the Ground Pass crew in the Served Bracket Challenge, the launch of our daily Coffee Catch-Up newsletter for the fortnight, and Nick reading a tennis match report from 1878 that you have to hear to believe.Players covered include Arthur Fils, Mirra Andreeva, Casper Ruud, Linda Nosková, Rafael Jodar, Lilli Tagger, Elina Svitolina, Flavio Cobolli, Hailey Baptiste, Eliot Spizzirri, Frances Tiafoe, Taylor Fritz, Nishesh Basavareddy, Kaitlin Quevedo, Emilio Nava, Michael Zheng, Toby Samuel, and Akasha Urhobo.Chapters:00:00 Weather and Merch: A Warm Welcome03:19 Carlos Alcaraz's Withdrawal from Wimbledon07:47 Thoughts on the Roland Garros Draw Ceremony11:00 Join us for the Served Bracket Challenge13:44 McCarren park Screenings details15:14 Draw Analysis: Men's and Women's Perspectives19:27 Players to Watch: Rising Stars and Dark Horses34:28 Qualifiers to watch39:00 Spotlight on Qualifiers: Rising Stars40:46 Wild Cards and Their Potential44:13 Our interview with Akasha Urhobo53:10 Exciting Matches to Watch: First Round Highlights59:02 Roland-Garros Updates: What to Expect01:04:28 Tennis History: A Look Back [Outro]Links:Send us a voice memo: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/voice-memoAthletic story about Alcaraz injury [Gift Link]: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7263807/2026/05/20/tennis-worst-injury-wrist-recovery-treatment/?source=user_shared_article&unlocked_article_code=1.klA.BuEf.htnlRpDbLNVVRoland Garros Draw: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/guides/rolandgarros2026printabledrawsServed Bracket Challenge: https://served.bracket.tennis💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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
23. Rome Wraps, Roland Garros Opens, and the Book Bringing Sexy Back to Tennis
01:27:33||Season 3, Ep. 23Rome is done and Roland Garros starts tomorrow. Anastasia is joined by Lucy Deuce for a tennis-friends-on-the-couch breakdown of one of the loudest weeks of the clay swing: Jannik Sinner completing the Career Golden Masters at 24, Elina Svitolina lifting a third Rome title and locking herself back into the top 10, and Coco Gauff fighting her way to a final the discourse swore she wouldn't reach. They also stop for a voice memo from journalist Hanlon Walsh on the ground in Rome, get into Gucci and the luxury-fashion-meets-tennis moment, and preview a Roland Garros draw that genuinely no one has figured out yet.In part two, Anastasia sits down with Edward Schmidt, author of The Open Era — a queer, mental-health-forward tennis novel out June 2 (June 4 in the UK). This conversation also kicks off something Anastasia has been sitting on for nearly a year: the very first Ground Pass Book Club. Links to pre-order and to the book launch at The Strand in NYC are in the show notes.Settle in, pour the coffee, this one is a long, juicy ride.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:26 Highlights from the Rome Masters08:31 Locking In for Roland Garros with Lucy Deuce12:28 Fashion Meets Tennis: The Gucci Influence18:30 Rome Tournament Highlights and Results20:32 Jannik Sinner's Triumph in Rome29:57 Elina Svitolina's Comeback and Impact on Women's Tennis35:44 Coco Gauff's Journey and Resilience43:55 Looking Ahead to Roland Garros48:52 Interview with Edward Schmidt51:53 Eddie's Journey into Tennis54:12 The Open Era: Book Overview57:36 Mental Health in Tennis01:02:14 Cultural Moments in Tennis01:03:22 The Impact of Social Media on Sports01:06:48 Representation in Tennis01:10:41 Coming Out in Sports01:13:46 The Impact of Representation01:15:36 Mental Health and Authenticity01:26:24 OutroLinks: Vanity Fair funny clip: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYSWSIzJap7/?igsh=bGxzbW5udmJ3bjRz Merch: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop 💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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
22. Upsets, Gucci, and Doubt: Rome Week One
58:23||Season 3, Ep. 22Nick is back from a birthday recharge in Wales and we're getting into Rome. Sinner is playing in all-black Gucci and closing in on the Career Masters at 24. Arthur Fils, Ben Shelton, Fonseca, and FAA are all out or struggling three weeks before Roland Garros. Sabalenka looks beatable for the first time in a while, Iga might be back, and the WTA field has gotten very wide open very fast. Plus housekeeping on the last day of spring merch pre-orders, our McCarran Park screening dates for Roland Garros and Wimbledon, an Off Season check-in, and our Players of the Fortnight.Links: Merch: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Mattia’s Meet the Player interview: https://youtu.be/5fEWXVYtYRI?si=6Lrh1hgBAdAC541x Hailey Baptiste Tee: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop/p/off-season-tour-tee-hailey-baptiste-limited-editionChapters:00:00 Welcome and Housekeeping05:32 Two Week Masters are OUT10:03 The State of the ATP Tour17:58 Novak Djokovic's Return and Future Prospects21:11 Janik Sinner's Dominance and Historical Context25:53 The WTA Landscape: Surprises and Uncertainties31:30 Retirement Announcements and Their Impact on Performance34:06 Paolini out of the top 1039:31 TNT is back for Roland Garros Coverage in the US & UK44:50 Catching up with the Off Season49:16 What’s coming up next on tour52:20 Highlighting Players of the Fortnight57:11 Outro💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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
21. Hailey's Breakthrough, Sinner's Streak, and Rome on Deck
30:39||Season 3, Ep. 21A mini pod to wrap Madrid and look ahead to Rome. We get into Hailey Baptiste's career-best run, Marta Kostyuk's unbeaten clay season (and the backflip we didn't know we needed), Mirra Andreeva's two finals, Townsend and Siniakova's doubles takeover, and the men's final that we, frankly, did not watch. Plus: why Alexander Blockx deserves more credit, the case for actually watching Next Gen, Ethan Quinn going full clay dog in Aix, and our spring merch is live (with a very limited Hailey Baptiste tee that drops out of the store May 11). Order of Play hits Substack right after.Links: Merch: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop ATP Next Gen doc: https://youtu.be/Vwdq01RMD9I?si=HdzjlbrKhVlxeFDE Off Season Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/offseasontv?igsh=MWJhaHZ4ano4NWlpeQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qrRome Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@internazionalibnlLast Week’s Order of Play: https://groundpass.substack.com/p/order-of-play-alcaraz-out-roland-garrosChapters:00:00 Intro00:38 Merch Update04:48 Breakthrough Performances: Hailey Baptiste and Others11:48 Men's Final and Emerging Talents24:24 Other Bits and Bobs25:10 Rome Preview29:41 Outro💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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
20. Alcaraz Is Out, Madrid Gets Weird, and a New Roland Garros Champion?
58:58||Season 3, Ep. 20Carlos Alcaraz is out of Rome and Roland Garros, and the men's draw in Madrid has cracked wide open. Anastasia and Nick break down what the wrist injury means for Paris, why Rafa Jodar and Daniel Merida are the names to know, and how Hailey Baptiste is quietly playing herself into a Roland Garros seed. Plus a new Sabalenka vs Osaka rematch, Naomi's Pucci scarf visor moment, the launch of Order of Play on Substack, a Jonas Wood tennis court art show in LA, and the question every player faces in a two-week 1000: what do you do when you lose early?Player of the Fortnight picks (with a big assist from the comments): Veronica Podrez, Rafa Jodar, and Daniel Merida.Links:- NEW Merch: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop - Where Naomi Osaka's scarf came from - https://www.instagram.com/highdivenyc?igsh=MTVlYmJ6aDhvZDVuMA== Chapters:00:00 Intro02:28 Reading your comments07:58 Carlos Alcaraz out for the rest of the Clay Season15:50 Impromptu Quiz20:07 Week 1 of Madrid Recap22:52 ATP Recap28:02 WTA Recap33:00 Naomi Osaka's walk out kit35:10 New Substack Newsletter post39:52 What do players do when they lose early at 2 week Masters45:46 Coming Up This Week in Tennis50:40 Players of the Fortnight58:08 Outro💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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
19. Who's Next in the New Big Three? Shelton and Fils Stake a Claim, Plus Rybakina's 2nd Porsche
42:53||Season 3, Ep. 19Nick is on his own for the mini pod this week while I'm off the grid, and there is a lot to get through. Rybakina picks up her second Porsche in Stuttgart after surviving a Leylah Fernandez match that nearly became the women's match of the year. Karolina Muchova finally gets Coco Gauff. Mirra Andreeva keeps rolling on indoor clay. Marta Kostyuk wins Rouen in an all-Ukrainian final alongside 19-year-old Veronika Podrez. Arthur Fils takes Barcelona as Alcaraz pulls out, and Ben Shelton wins on European clay in Munich. Plus what's happening with Marketa Vondrusova and a Madrid preview missing two of its biggest names.Chapters:00:00 Intro01:01 Stuttgart: A Premier WTA Event04:31 Zeynep Somnez and Leylah Fernandez shine09:26 Karolina Muchova's big win16:59 Ruan WTA 250: New Faces and Rising Stars19:27 Quick re-cap of Rouen23:02 Injury Challenges for Alcaraz25:03 The Impact of Player Withdrawals26:17 No Novak Djokovic yet27:38 Arthur Fils wins in Barcelona29:04 Name to remember - Rafa Jodar30:16 On to Munich - Fonseca takes steps forward32:47 Ethan Quinn & Ben Shelton's Breakthrough on Clay36:23 Off Court News39:15 Madrid Open Preview41:17 Outro💬 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/supportOur New Merch is LIVE!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop Where You can Find us Online:Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 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/groundpasspodDisclaimer: 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