The 2025 Rome Open had it all—career-defining wins, surprise storylines, and a whole lot of clay. In this Ground Pass mini pod, we break down Jasmine Paolini’s stunning singles and doubles sweep, Jannik Sinner’s return after suspension, and Coco Gauff’s ongoing stat struggles. Plus: why the men’s vs. women’s tennis debate needs to stop, who’s trending ahead of Roland Garros, and the vibes from one of the best stops on tour.

Chapters

00:00 - Intro

3:30 - WTA Storylines: Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff, Qinwen and more

12:50 - Italian Tennis Rennaissance

17:47 - Mini Rant: Let’s Retire the Gender Debate

21:01 - ATP Storylines: Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz

30:10 - Other Winners: Draper, Stearns, Musetti, Osaka, Raducanu

34:59 - Coming up this week on tour

36:10 - Outro

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This week on Ground Pass, we’re catching up on all things clay season and diving into the beautiful chaos that is the Rome Open. But first, we recap the wild scenes from Madrid—including a super-detailed voice memo from Ramiro at @courtsatisfaction breaking down everything from seating to surprise side events.

⏱️ In This Episode:

0:00 – Kicking off + the Ground Pass update

2:50 – Madrid wrap + listener voice memo

17:00 – Rome is stunning: travel vibes + stadium drama

28:00 – Darth Sinner + Alcaraz’s tennis puppy energy

32:40 – No Djokovic in Rome—what’s going on?

38:00 – Jack Draper on clay is the real deal

41:00 – Emma Raducanu’s comeback + mental reset

44:00 – Iga Swiatek: time to figure things out

52:00 – Sabalenka: world #1 and thriving

55:00 – American women rising: Stearns + Baptiste

57:30 – Team Coachella = Coco Gauff + Alex Eala 🕶️🎶

1:00:30 – The doubles story you’re not hearing: Evan King + Chris Harrison

1:03:40 – Player of the Fortnight: Bianca Andreescu + Fabian Marozsan

✨ We’ve got stories, travel tips, and maybe a few statue jokes along the way.

🎧 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a rating, and check out our new Patreon for behind-the-scenes content.

Links mentioned:

– Karue Sell - Meet the Professionals episode

– Our Patreon

– Instagram @court.satisfaction

– Match Stories: Osaka v Golubic

💬 Don’t forget to give us 5 stars and drop us a comment ⭐️

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What if you could restart your tennis career—with a camera in one hand and a racquet in the other?

In this episode of Meet the Professionals, Anastasia and Nick sit down with Karue Sell, who has lived every version of tennis: a top junior in Brazil, NCAA standout at UCLA, coach on the ATP tour, hitting partner for Naomi Osaka, YouTuber behind MyTennisHQ, and now… a 30-year-old chasing ATP points again.

We talk about:

• Why college tennis helped him avoid burnout
• The hustle behind building a tennis YouTube channel
• Coaching vs. playing: what’s harder?
• Turning pro again—and filming the whole thing
• Why storytelling is tennis’ biggest growth opportunity

Karue gets real about finances, motivation, injuries, and how he’s redefining success in tennis on his own terms. This is one for the dreamers, the doers, and everyone in between.

New to Ground Pass?

We’re the podcast for anyone who’s tennis-curious—from brand new fans to lifelong watchers.

🎾 Hit follow, leave a rating, and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

Follow Karue:

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@Karue-Sell

Instagram → instagram.com/karuesell

Connect with Us:

• Follow Ground Pass on Instagram and Bluesky/Twitter for real-time updates.
• Subscribe on Substack for bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes coverage and exclusive content.
• Got thoughts on this week’s tennis news? Let us know in the comments or send us a message!

Enjoy the episode and stay tuned for more from Ground Pass!

Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com

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Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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Anastasia and Nick are back with a full episode, and it’s a packed one!

They kick off with a spoiler-free discussion of the new Carlos Alcaraz documentary on Netflix, sharing thoughts on Carlos’ mindset, why it’s refreshing to see athletes prioritize happiness, and a few can’t-miss moments (including a sweet encounter with Roger Federer!).

Then it’s onto the latest tennis news:

• The chaos unfolding at the Madrid Open 🎾
• Carlos Alcaraz’s tough clay season scheduling and injury news 🇪🇸
• Big first-round exits for top players like Novak Djokovic and Holger Rune
• Why Jannik Sinner’s absence might be changing the men’s tour energy
• Alejandro Davidovich Fokina’s strong season so far 🔥
• Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff surviving early-round scares at Madrid
• Naomi Osaka’s next steps after an early Madrid exit—and the rising trend of players taking Challenger wildcards for match play
• Updates on Emma Raducanu, Maria Sakkari, and other names heating up the women’s tour
• Plus: a historic run at the Côte d’Ivoire Challenger 🏆

No Player of the Fortnight this week — and Anastasia and Nick explain why they’re waiting for a breakout story worth highlighting.

Don’t miss:

➔ A little tease about the next Meet the Professionals episode

➔ Some love for Challenger events (and why you should absolutely go to one near you!)

Chapters

00:00 Intro

04:14 Our thoughts on the Carlos Alcaraz Documentary

17:13 The Chaotic Madrid Open

38:54 What Happens After Early Exits?

48:25 Spotlight on Local Talent

51:10 Player of the Fortnite Dilemma

Relevant Links:

• Eliakim Coulibaly’s historic win: https://www.instagram.com/p/DI99yV4ti85/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
• Challenger TV: https://www.atptour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour/challenger-tv
• WTA Unlocked: https://www.wtatennis.com/unlocked

Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com

Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com

Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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This week, it’s just Anastasia on the mic for a quick solo catch-up on everything that’s gone down on the tour.

We’re talking:

•Ben Shelton making American clay-court history 🧱🇺🇸

•Jelena Ostapenko continuing her mental hold over Iga Swiatek 😳

•Carlos Alcaraz reaching back-to-back finals… but it’s Holger Rune who steals the show in Barcelona 🏆

•And yes—Alexander Zverev might just have his mojo back after winning Munich 👀

It’s a short, sharp dose of stories, energy, and opinion—everything you need to stay in the loop this week.

Relevant Links:

• Will Beger on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willbeger?igsh=MWt6ZHkwMjJtZ3lubQ==
• Best UTS court ever: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIEt8jStIAN/?igsh=MW9xNHJ2eGMwaDVtZw==
• Tennis Inside-In episode with Andrea Petkovic: https://youtu.be/aVcrADBEhYU?si=lYfsJNaZc0_UYImz
• Renee Stubbs Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rennae-stubbs-tennis-podcast/id1393881115

• Jelena Ostapenko won the Abu Dhabi Open WTA 500 in doubles with Ellen Perez

Chapters

00:00Introduction

02:31Ben Shelton’s history making clay run

06:33Jelena Ostaenko / Iga Swiatek H2H

10:34Ostapenko wins Stuttgart over Sabalenka

15:19Alex Eala returns

17:19Holger Rune gets a win over Carlos Alcaraz in Barcelona

22:20Who won this week

23:41Whats Next: Madrid Open

24:47Sinner is coming back

25:07Outro

Connect with Us:

• Subscribe on Substack for bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes coverage and exclusive content.
• Got thoughts on this week’s tennis news? Let us know in the comments or send us a message!

Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com

Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com

Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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In this episode, Anastasia and Nick catch up on all the latest from the tennis world—from the red clay of Monte Carlo to the team spirit of the Billie Jean King Cup.

They break down Team USA’s surprising BJK Cup performance, share highlights from Anastasia time at the Charleston Open, and unpack the energy (and drama) of Monte Carlo. Expect a closer look at standout players like Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, recent coaching shake-ups, and rising American names like Hailey Baptiste and Bernarda Pera.

It’s a mix of insights, on-the-ground reflections, and everything you need to know heading into the next stretch of the tennis season.

🎧 Available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Relevant Links:

• Alex De Minaur’s shorts: https://www.instagram.com/p/DIYQU7po93g/?img_index=1&igsh=MWdpN2RudWF5bGZo
• Monte Carlo Stringer Video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DITY8TVpbsa/?igsh=MWd0eXh6N25qamt5bw==

Chapters

00:00 No, this is not an F1 podcast

01:35 Question Of the Week

03:44 Still gushing over our MTP with Abigail Johnson

05:06 Quick Charleston recap, more to come

09:56 Monte Carlo brought the sunshine

13:46 James - The Tennis Ranter on Monte Carlo

19:23 The Tennis at Monte Carlo

37:59 The Stringers of Monte Carlo

41:23 Team USA proves 'them' wrong - Billie Jean King Cup

01:00:24 The Year of the Super coaches continues

01:08:20 Challengers coming to Tennis Channel

01:10:06 Whats coming up this week on Tour

01:12:39 Players of the Fortnight

Connect with Us:

• Follow Ground Pass on Instagram and Bluesky/Twitter for real-time updates.
• Subscribe on Substack for bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes coverage and exclusive content.
• Got thoughts on this week’s tennis news? Let us know in the comments or send us a message!

Enjoy the episode and stay tuned for more from Ground Pass!

Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com

Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com

Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass

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Welcome to another episode of Meet the Professionals, our monthly series spotlighting the people who make the tennis world go ’round. This time, Anastasia & Nick sit down with rising tennis commentator Abigail Johnson for an inspiring and insightful conversation.

From her early tennis obsessions to carving out a space for herself in the world of sports commentary, Abigail shares how passion, preparation, and persistence shaped her journey. They dive into everything from the art of on-air storytelling to the realities of traveling on the tennis tour, building relationships with players, and making space for young voices in the media.

If you’re curious about what it really takes to get behind the mic in tennis—or just love hearing from the voices shaping the sport—this one’s for you.

Relevant Links:

• Abigail Johnson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abigailtennis?igsh=MTY3bW5pbnE1YWM5ag==
• Abigail Johnson on X: https://x.com/abigailtennis?s=21&t=34KFRaMxpc-93mq_1EOI7A

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:27 Abigail Johnson: A Journey into Tennis Commentary

04:31 Childhood Influences and Early Aspirations

07:18 The Path to Professional Tennis Commentary

09:57 Transitioning from Writing to Commentary

18:37 How Abigail's hobbies helped her in Tennis Commentary

24:00 Being an educator as a tennis commentator

31:41 Overcoming "Youth" and being an outsider

36:49 Building Relationships with Players

48:08 Traveling for Work: A Commentator's Life

51:45 Balancing Passion and Professionalism

55:01 What the future looks like for Abigail

59:19 Engaging New Tennis Fans

01:01:28 Advice for getting into Tennis Commentary

01:06:29 The Importance of Grassroots Tennis

Connect with Us:

• Follow Ground Pass on Instagram and Bluesky/Twitter for real-time updates.
• Subscribe on Substack for bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes coverage and exclusive content.
• Got thoughts on this week’s tennis news? Let us know in the comments or send us a message!

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Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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Thats right Ground Pass went viral on TikTok because of the popularity of the Alex Eala run at the Miami Open. Let’s talk about it.

In this episode, Nick and Anastasia discuss the Miami Open, its unique atmosphere, and the ongoing challenges of scheduling due to rain delays. They compare the Miami Open to Indian Wells, highlighting the differences in appeal and experience for fans. The conversation shifts to emerging talents like Jakub Mensik and Alex Eala, who are making waves in the tennis world. They also touch on the dominance of Aryna Sabalenka and Emma Raducanu's journey, before transitioning to the upcoming clay season and the excitement surrounding it.

Relevant Links:

• Ground Pass “mini” pod about the differences between the Miami Open & Indian Wells: https://pod.fo/e/2bda20
• Courtside with Issac Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/courtsidewithisaac?igsh=MmNkNHBicGRtNTBh

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Tournament Overview

02:29 The Miami Open vs. Indian Wells

05:20 Venue Experience and Accessibility

08:06 Comparing Miami Open to Other Tournaments

11:01 Ticketing and Logistics

13:46 Fan Experience and Atmosphere

19:35 Cultural Impact and Growing Markets

23:08 Indian Wells Semifinalists fall early

24:52 Jakub Mensik goes under the rader

29:22 The rise of Alex Eala and tennis in the Philippines

37:16 The Arthur Fils Corner

41:02 Emma Raducanu's Journey and Potential

46:49 Iga Swiatek vs. Aryna Sabalenka: The Miami Open Final

52:55 Celebrating Doubles: The Sunshine Double Achievers

55:45 Transitioning to Clay: The Upcoming Tournaments

01:04:37 Players of the Fortnite: Celebrating Talent

Connect with Us:

• Follow Ground Pass on Instagram and Bluesky/Twitter for real-time updates.
• Subscribe on Substack for bonus episodes, behind-the-scenes coverage and exclusive content.
• Got thoughts on this week’s tennis news? Let us know in the comments or send us a message!

Enjoy the episode and stay tuned for more from Ground Pass!

Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com

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