Ground Pass is a tennis podcast for curious newcomers and longtime followers alike. We cover the sport from a non-technical point of view. Anastasia is your guide to what it’s like to experience tournaments in person, with insight into the fashion and culture around tennis, while Nick is our resident history buff. We keep things fun and light because it’s just tennis, and tennis should be enjoyed with friends. So hello, friends. Welcome to your guides to tennis from the grounds.
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WTA Finals Preview… But What Is Going On in Paris?
Season 3 · Episode 54
Thursday, November 5, 2026 • Duration 43:32
The WTA Finals come to Indian Wells this year, and Anastasia and Nick have your starter kit. They walk through how the round robin works, how the standings get settled, why you can lose a match and still win the title, and what changes when the event is outdoors in the desert in November with noon starts.
Also inside: why this field arrives short on matches, Jessica Pegula’s run-in with United, how to watch on Tennis Channel in the US and on Sky Sports Tennis and NOW in the UK, Madison Keys joining the Sky team, the doubles and singles groups, and their picks, including why Linda Nosková could be the disruptor in Group 1.
Recorded Wednesday, Nov. 4, the episode also catches up on a big day at the Paris Masters: Djokovic, Zverev, Medvedev, de Minaur and Tiafoe all lost, Taylor Fritz survived Alex Molčan, and Tommy Paul made his case in the Race to Turin. Plus a quick look at Hong Kong.
Nick also previews his History Corner on the Lacoste crocodile. Get it in the newsletter: https://groundpass.substack.com
Chapters
00:00 The WTA Finals take center stage as Paris erupts
03:50 How the WTA Finals round-robin format works
06:28 Why a player can lose and still win the title
11:33 The tie-break math: matches, sets, and games
13:21 Indian Wells in November brings unfamiliar conditions
19:24 How to watch, plus Madison Keys’s commentary debut
20:51 A look at the draw - Balanced Double's Groups
23:25 A tough singles draw for Sabalenka and Svitolina
27:55 Can Rybakina and Gauff emerge from Group One?
31:40 The ATP Finals race turns chaotic in Paris
36:04 Fritz and Paul remain in contention
40:03 Paris’s history of unpredictable results
41:30 Season-ending events and Venus Williams in doubles
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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
Nobody Had Ben Shelton on the List: Ferrero’s 2027 Surprise
Season 3 · Episode 53
Sunday, November 1, 2026 • Duration 48:59
Juan Carlos Ferrero is joining Ben Shelton's team for 2027, working alongside Ben's dad and coach, Bryan. Anastasia and Lucy hit record minutes after the news broke for Ground Pass's first emergency pod. They go through the Times scoop, why nobody had Ben on the list, and Lucy's February take on parent-coaches stepping back. Anastasia brings in her interview with Bryan Shelton and what "a different voice" could mean for Ben's game, from the serve to the rest of his tennis. Then it's the bigger picture: the case for mic'ing up tennis coaches, the 2027 coaching carousel, why Ben should spend his offseason in Spain, and why Ferrero didn't go to Jannik Sinner or Rafael Jódar. They close with Finals Sunday: Harriet Dart in Guangzhou, Diana Shnaider in Tokyo, Carlos Alcaraz in Vienna and Valentin Vacherot in Basel. Ferrero news first reported by Tom Kershaw for The Times.
Chapters
00:00 Emergency Pod Activation: Breaking News in Tennis Coaching
01:37 Juan Carlos Ferrero joins Team Ben Shelton
04:32 Tennis Dads need to step aside
10:31 Ben Shelton's Development: The Need for a New Voice
14:37 Let the coaches speak
19:04 Building excitement for the 2027 season
22:20 What will Ben Shelton's Off Season look like?
28:21 The Drama of Coaching Changes
31:52 Reflections on Recent Matches and Performances
32:52 WTA Draw coming on Tuesday
34:55 The Brits are bring it home
37:26 Leylah Fernandez and Diana Schnaider have a great Tokyo Final
40:09 Alex De Minaur's breakthrough and Carlos Alcaraz's win
43:00 Valentin Vacherot is the real deal
46:57 Outro
Nobody on Jeopardy Got This Tennis Question: Davis Cup and Team Events, Explained
Season 3 · Episode 52
Monday, October 26, 2026 • Duration 01:02:16
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
Tennis Has a Super Bowl. Why Doesn’t It Feel Like One?
Season 3 · Episode 51
Monday, October 19, 2026 • Duration 01:21:06
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.
07:09 Part 1 - End of Year Finals - Why should you care
Coco Gauff Was Right. Medvedev Was Defaulted. Are Tennis Rules Fair?
Season 3 · Episode 50
Monday, October 12, 2026 • Duration 01:07:13
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.
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
Carlos Alcaraz loves Laver Cup and Leylah Fernandez keeps winning in Asia
Season 3 · Episode 49
Monday, September 28, 2026 • Duration 01:11:52
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.
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
Team USA Davis Cup disappointment and a quiet tennis week
Season 3 · Episode 48
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 • Duration 33:35
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.
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
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?
US Open 2026: Shelton vs Zverev, Sabalenka vs Rybakina, and How We Got Here
Season 3 · Episode 46
Saturday, September 12, 2026 • Duration 01:09:40
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
💬 Don’t forget to give us a leave is a 5 ⭐️ rating and drop us a comment
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US Open Round 4 - Comebacks, Armstrong, and the US Open Ticket Market
Season 3 · Episode 45
Tuesday, September 8, 2026 • Duration 54:54
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
