Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast

• Meet the Professionals: Nick McCarvel on Building a Tennis Media Career

  In this episode of Meet the Professionals, I sit down with tennis host, commentator, and writer Nick McCarvel to unpack what it really looks like to build a career in tennis media.Nick shares how a childhood dream in Montana turned into bylines at the New York Times and USA Today, and how that writing work eventually led him to the mic as an on-court host at Grand Slams and big events around the world. We talk about cold-calling editors, early social media experiments, and why persistence (and a lot of “no”s) still matter in 2025.Nick also pulls back the curtain on his current roles with the Olympic Channel and at tournaments like Cincinnati, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the Australian Open. He explains how he prepares to tell players’ stories on court, deals with nerves and stage fright as an introvert, and why research and empathy are just as important as being good on camera.If you’ve ever wondered how to get into tennis journalism, presenting, or sports media more broadly, this is your masterclass.Chapters:00:00 Introduction and Background02:54 Career Journey in Tennis Journalism06:06 Transition to On-Camera Presence09:08 Connecting with Players and Audience12:03 Research and Preparation for Interviews15:01 Innovations in Tennis Presentation17:58 Advice for Aspiring Tennis ProfessionalsLinks:Nick McCarvel on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/nickmccarvel?igsh=MXU4YW1uZXQ0MGhudw==We have Merch!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop 💬 Don’t forget to give us a rating and drop us a comment ⭐️Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email us at - [email protected] Follow us for daily updates on Social: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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Ground Pass Awards 2025: Our Tennis Season In 12 Trophies

  It is time for the Ground Pass Awards. Anastasia and Nick are handing out their very own trophies for the 2025 tennis season. Think Oscars energy with a very casual dress code.They run through favorite tournament of the year, best match, biggest plot twist, and the off court moments that broke the internet. From the Citi Open and Charleston to Ilkley, from the Sincaraz Roland Garros final to Madison Keys in Melbourne, it is a full season recap through the lens of Ground Pass.You will also hear their picks for breakthrough and most improved players, the tennis story of the year, and the official Ground Pass Players of the Year on the men’s and women’s side. Plus a quick fire round, bold predictions for 2026, and a love letter to small tournaments and doubles.Chapters:00:00 Ground Pass Tennis Oscars02:17 Best tournament07:59 Best Match15:23 Breakthrough Player of the Year21:27 Biggest Plot twist29:18 Best Off court moment of 202533:28 Quick Fire Categories42:08 Tennis Story of the Year47:39 Ground Pass Players of the YearLinks:Emma Raducanu Match Stories - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DNb5JDygQ_M/?igsh=MTQwdmlva2c5OGg5ZQ== Sincaraz Roland Garros match stories - https://youtu.be/k7mgL4GSRI4?si=rMfUXMM8oi8aAihz Muchova Point - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DRAOc4ZjIn8/?igsh=MTNudnlpdGdxdHI2Mg==Ostapenko/Townsend Match Story - https://youtu.be/3arCsp2jvvE?si=3EwPuE2NcFBSbRe0 We have Merch!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop 💬 Don’t forget to give us a rating and drop us a comment ⭐️Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email us at - [email protected] Follow us for daily updates on Social: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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The Davis Cup Review. Underdogs, Tiebreak Thrillers, and Italy’s Three-Peat

  This week, Anastasia and Nick break down a wildly entertaining Davis Cup. Spain overachieved. Belgium stole our hearts. Germany survived doubles chaos. And Italy completed a dominant run without Jannik Sinner. We also talk Carlos Alcaraz’s viral living room photo, Arthur Fils’ injury update, Fabio Fognini’s Dancing with the Stars era, Rafa Nadal’s return to the court, and Roger Federer’s Hall of Fame induction. We wrap up with the Ground Pass Gift Guide and preview the upcoming Ground Pass Awards.Chapters:00:00 Introduction02:36 Q&A - The Absence of the US in the Davis Cup06:49 The Evolution and Popularity of the Davis Cup17:22 The Stories that dominated Davis Cup: No Sincaraz18:29 Doubles deciders and Tiebreaks & Team Belgium26:39 Team Spain: The underdogs32:26 The dominance of Italian Tennis38:51 Other News around Tennis44:40 Mental and Physical Health in Tennis52:19 Rafael Nadal's Comeback Journey53:42 Roger Federer's Hall of Fame Induction57:01 Fabio Fognini's Dancing with the Stars Journey58:48 Groundpass Offseason Plans and Gift Guide01:03:06 Groundpass Awards Preview01:07:35 OutroLinks:⁃Ground Pass Gift Guide - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/tournament-guides/-ground-pass-gift-guide-2025-the-best-tennis-gifts-of-the-seasonWe have Merch!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop 💬 Don’t forget to give us a rating and drop us a comment ⭐️Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email us at - [email protected] Follow us for daily updates on Social: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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• Sincaraz, Indoor Royalty & a Davis Cup Send-Off

  The ATP Finals in Turin are officially in the books, and yes… the Sincaraz final we all predicted actually delivered. Anastasia breaks down how we got there: Ben Shelton’s muted week, Taylor Fritz’s quietly excellent season, Alex de Minaur’s redemption arc, Lorenzo Musetti’s hometown surge, and Felix Auger-Aliassime’s rise back into the top five.She also digs into Alexander Zverev and the “Lost Boys” generation, why Sinner’s indoor dominance is starting to feel inevitable, and how the doubles event turned into a sunglasses-fuelled fashion show before ending with a statement win for Patten & Heliovaara.Then it’s a mini Davis Cup preview (hello Bologna), a look at the United Cup draw, and a few must-listen tennis recs—from Andy Murray’s hilarious interview on The Ramesh Ranganathan Show to the Player Box pod’s behind-the-scenes WTA Finals stories—plus news of Ons Jabeur’s baby.Chapters:00:00 Intro00:55 ATP Finals Review 02:18 Player Performances08:39 Zverev11:27 FAA16:19 Sincaraz22:28 Doubles Matches30:43 Davis Cup Preview33:38 Tennis NewsLinks:FAA Press Conference - https://youtu.be/mExNSX4WtCU?si=9cTAn4tTlzVPcfy1&t=87 Sinner Indoor Stat - https://x.com/universtennis/status/1990141713235444042?s=46&t=34KFRaMxpc-93mq_1EOI7ASunglasses walk out video - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DREz80HjE8A/?igsh=MWthdG54ZGd6ZjA5ZQ==Vavassori instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andrevavassori?igsh=dDllampoNGhwaWdlUnited Cup draw - https://www.unitedcup.com/en/media/news/united-cup-2026-draw-revealed We have Merch!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop 💬 Don’t forget to give us a rating and drop us a comment ⭐️Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email us at - [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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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• The WTA Finals Recap & ATP Finals Chaos: From Rybakina’s Rise to Djokovic’s Exit

  Anastasia and Nick break down the thrilling close to the WTA season — Elena Rybakina’s flawless run in Riyadh, Aryna Sabalenka’s fiery consistency, and what Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek’s “rebuilding” phases really mean heading into 2026. Then they pivot to the ATP Finals, unpacking Novak Djokovic’s late withdrawal, Lorenzo Musetti’s mad dash to Turin, and why the Alcaraz–Sinner rivalry now defines men’s tennis. Plus: doubles shakeups, the ATP’s new Spotify deal, and the so-called “Battle of the Sexes” rematch.Chapters:00:00 Intro01:55 Audience Q&A09:00 WTA Finals review52:22 ATP Finals Preview01:12:46 The News Around Tennis01:35:35 OutroLinks:Morgan’s Mexico City GP vlog - https://youtu.be/HDb8Ng-f2xo?si=YgjIfWUEWXeSwwb9 Players box Podcast - https://www.youtube.com/@ThePlayersBoxPodcastDoubles reels - https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQ1b3-dDhi5/?igsh=MXYxNDhnZTgzamxjdA==Hardcourt article - https://open.substack.com/pub/hardcourt/p/the-tennis-tours-content-conundrum?r=64928&utm_medium=iosWe have Merch!!! Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop 💬 Don’t forget to give us a rating and drop us a comment ⭐️Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com Email us at - [email protected] Follow us for daily updates on Social: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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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