The dream team is back together! Anastasia and Nick reunite to discuss the recent retirement announcement of tennis legend Rafa Nadal. We reflect on his illustrious career, memorable matches, and the emotional impact of his departure from professional tennis. Then we catch up on Wuhan, highlighting the intriguing rivalry between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. We discuss the importance of context in understanding player performance beyond rankings, the journey of Qinwen towards the WTA finals. We hit on Novak Djokovic's return, umpire conflicts in matches in Shanghai, and the significant shift at Wimbledon towards electronic line calling.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• Nadal v Djokovic Australian Open 2012 trophy ceremony: https://youtu.be/HhCzXwdUs_U?si=JSi9swlk9rWqOs5d
• Strokes of Genius documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8638420/
• Qinwen’s Vogue Cover: https://www.wtatennis.com/news/4148066/zheng-qinwen-becomes-first-athlete-to-grace-the-cover-of-vogue-china

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In this episode, Nick discusses the recent tennis tournaments in Beijing and Tokyo, highlighting the performances of players like Alcaraz, Sinner, Gauff, and Muchova. He reflects on the challenges of following tennis due to time zone differences and emphasizes the importance of coaching in the sport. The episode also marks the one-year anniversary of the Grand Pass podcast, celebrating the community of tennis fans that has formed around it.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• Sinner v Alcaraz 8-minute China Open Final Highlight - https://youtu.be/Kv_obyZNKl4?si=9QJhiX9wM1iz6GU4
• Muchova v Gauff final highlights - https://youtu.be/wt4YtFaifg4?si=pgD6UL4pp9YY8kS8

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Scheduling Challenges

02:00 Beijing Finals and Key Matches

04:04 Alcaraz vs Sinner: A Rivalry to Watch

05:02 Tokyo Highlights and Emerging Players

06:51 WTA China Open: Coco Gauff's Triumph

08:58 Coaching Dynamics in Tennis

10:12 Celebrating One Year of Groundpass

Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com

Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Follow us for daily updates on Social:

X: https://x.com/groundpasspod

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast

Follow the co-hosts on X:

Anastasia - https://x.com/a_folorunso

Nick - https://x.com/nick_bcarter

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In this episode of Groundpass, Anastasia discusses the ongoing Asian swing in tennis, highlighting key tournaments in Beijing and Tokyo, and the significance of this part of the season for players. She delves into the importance of breaking into the top 100 rankings, the recent performances of players like Yunchaokete Bu and Arthur Fils, and the impact of coaching changes, particularly for Naomi Osaka. The conversation also covers the Laver Cup, its format, and player perspectives on exhibition events, before wrapping up with insights on upcoming tournaments and player returns.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

How to pronounce Yunchaokete Bu - https://www.atptour.com/en/players/yunchaokete-bu/y09v/overview

Taylor Fritz’s thoughts on Laver Cup - https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass/post/DAbgfnDP-zN/?xmt=AQGzMskaMDZKZlwTNKyDQ-jgS7917cB1tABzQcilHFQ_Sg

6 Slam Kings tournament trailer - https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass/post/DAez0bggAa6/?xmt=AQGzoioo091zZgSs3u2ZAlEjnYpUCBNzQ7d2UDkm2jGzGA

Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com

Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

Follow us for daily updates on Social:

X: https://x.com/groundpasspod

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass

Follow the co-hosts on X:

Anastasia - https://x.com/a_folorunso

Nick - https://x.com/nick_bcarter

Podcast Theme by Breakmaster Cylinder

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.