Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast

Anastasia checks in from the Miami Open after a whirlwind stretch through Indian Wells and the start of the Sunshine Double. In this mini-pod, she recaps what Indian Wells felt like on the ground, from ticketing issues and practice court culture to the players and storylines that defined the tournament. She also looks ahead to Miami, where the vibes, food, fans, and draw all promise a very different week. Plus: the rise of the next wave of American men, Medvedev’s resurgence, Sabalenka and Rybakina’s rivalry, Taylor Townsend’s impressive run, and updates on the Off Season athletes competing in Miami.

Links:
Substack about comebacks - https://open.substack.com/pub/groundpass/p/absence-makes-you-play-better-tennis?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=post%20viewer
Off Season Ep 5 - https://youtu.be/Ceo9n7HvTQ4?si=v3gHLlW-GJjW-Kcx
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop
Ground Pass Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/GroundPassPodcast

Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Groundpass: Miami Open Edition
03:13 Recapping Indian Wells: Highlights and Insights
06:00 The Atmosphere of Indian Wells: A Unique Experience
12:09 Transitioning Generations: American Men's Tennis
14:59 Rivalries and Rising Stars: Women's Tennis Highlights
20:05 Exploring the Miami Open: A Different Vibe
26:07 Food and Culture at the Miami Open
29:49 Upcoming Matches and Player Insights
34:04 Closing Thoughts and Future Expectations

We have Merch!!!

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

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.

“Live” from Indian Wells its Ground Pass!
Join Anastasia and guest co-host Ian Mondul on the pod recorded from Tennis Paradise in the desert.
Things we discuss:
What the Tournament has been like so far and the changes this year
The Lululemon take over
The Tennis so far: The Americans, Alex Eala and Joao Fonseca Mania
Soundbites from the press room from Coco Gauff, Learner Tien, Lilli Tagger, Felix Auger Aliassime and Arthur Fils

Links:
Substack from Indian Wells - https://open.substack.com/pub/groundpass/p/the-5th-slam-indian-wells-the-world?r=47h9qh&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Off Season Ep 4 - https://youtu.be/8UTohuZL-oY?si=8ue6NlazOwcIEf23
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop
Ground Pass Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/GroundPassPodcast

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
02:30 How Indian Wells has changed
18:18 The Tennis so Far
47:30 Off Season: In Season
50:30 Outro

We have Merch!!!

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

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.

Meet the Professionals with Mike Cation, the voice of Challenger tennis. We talk commentary reps, relationships, journalistic ethics, and how to break into tennis jobs through volunteering and college tennis. Plus a quick tour check-in as Medvedev wins Dubai by walkover and Tiafoe reaches the Acapulco final.

Links:
Off Season Ep 4 - https://youtu.be/8UTohuZL-oY?si=8ue6NlazOwcIEf23
Ground Pass Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com/
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop
Ground Pass Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/GroundPassPodcast

Chapters:
00:00 Intro
05:12 Current Events in Tennis: Dubai and Austin Tournaments
10:18 Meet the Professional: Mike Cation's Journey in Tennis Commentary
19:23 Building Relationships in Tennis: The Key to Success
21:30 The Art of Commentary: Skills and Learning Process
28:55 The Role of a Commentator: Insights and Relationships with Players
36:21 Navigating the Changing Landscape of Sports Media
40:59 Advice for Aspiring Tennis Professionals

We have Merch!!!

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

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.

Anastasia is back from Delray Beach and has thoughts. A lot of them. This week, we get into why February might just be the best month on the tennis calendar, what it was actually like on the ground at the Delray Beach Open, and why the draw felt more like a 500 than a 250. We also break down Jessica Pegula winning Dubai, the WTA’s new Tour Architecture Council, the debate around getting rid of 250-level events, and whether anyone can actually stop Carlos Alcaraz right now. Plus: player clips from Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, and Coleman Wong on tour life, 250s, and representing Hong Kong on the pro circuit. And we have an update on what the OFF SEASON cast is up to as the US spring swing kicks off.

Links:
Off Season Ep 3 - https://youtu.be/K77vLeZhyho?si=Cwx2jn7oeG6Gl4Kn
Ground Pass Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com/
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop
Ground Pass Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/cw/GroundPassPodcast

Chapters:
00:00 Technical Difficulties and Weather Woes
01:59 Delray Beach Tournament Overview
09:52 The Future of 250 Tournaments
24:39 Dubai Tournament Highlights
29:38 The WTA rethinking their schedule
33:20 Jessica Pegula's Consistency and Victory
38:11 The Impact of Alex Eala on Tennis
42:32 Doha: Sinner searching, Alcaraz unstoppable
48:46 Goran Ivanisevic is back
51:07 February: The Best Month for Tennis
56:17 Upcoming Tournaments and Player Highlights
01:03:05 Outro

We have Merch!!!

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

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.

Anastasia is on the road in Florida after covering the Dallas Open in person and she is breaking down what made it such a great “small tournament, big tennis” week. We talk atmosphere, access, and why Dallas felt like a stadium-within-a-stadium event. Then we jump to Doha where Karolina Muchova wins the title, Victoria Mboko breaks into the Top 10, and Mirra Andreeva’s poise keeps leveling up. Plus, Qinwen Zheng returns, Rotterdam and Buenos Aires check-ins, Destanee Aiava’s retirement post, and a packed “what’s next” slate led by Dubai, Doha (men), Rio, and a seriously stacked Delray field. Players of the Fortnight: Elisabetta Cocciaretto and Jack Pinnington Jones.

Links:
Off Season Ep 3 - https://youtu.be/K77vLeZhyho?si=Cwx2jn7oeG6Gl4Kn
Ground Pass Substack - https://groundpass.substack.com/
Bryan Shelton Interview - https://youtu.be/U1IOObky2UE?si=KogAEfpDK4rcMMIR
Destanee Aiava instagram post - https://www.instagram.com/p/DUu-THaE6KR/?igsh=MThrdTFqa3ZmcHN2Nw==

Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
02:24 Dallas Open Experience
16:44 Doha: The feel good Tournament
29:42 Tournament Updates: Rotterdam and Buenos Aires
34:16 Destanee Aiava retires at 26
38:14 Upcoming Tournaments: Dubai and Delray Beach Preview
49:15 Players of the Fortnight: Rising Stars in Focus
53:52 Outro

We have Merch!!!

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

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.