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Season 2 ends with a proper tennis reset. We preview the United Cup and the early-week matchups we cannot wait for, then zoom out to the cultural moment of Heated Rivalry and why tennis still struggles to embrace sports entertainment without nitpicking it to death. Plus, we unpack the Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero split, the latest on Jack Draper missing the Australian swing, and the small sign Nike might be taking tennis kits seriously again. Also, a quick tease of what’s coming next for Ground Pass in 2026.
Links:
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
03:46 Heated Rivalry and Its Impact on Sports Media
18:52 Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero's Split
30:26 United Cup Preview
36:18 Team Dynamics and Predictions for the United Cup
41:55 Analyzing the United Cup's Impact on Player Performance
47:13 Key Matches to Watch in the United Cup
53:36 Tennis News and Ground Pass Updates
58:40 Nike's Potential Return to Tennis Fashion
01:01:48 Ground Pass Update
01:09:52 What's Next On Tour?
01:13:01 Outro
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What do Jim Courier and Tommy Paul have in common? Brad Stine. In this Meet the Professionals episode, Brad takes us from the early 90s to today’s tour, breaking down what great coaching actually looks like. We talk trust, team size, travel, on-court coaching, and why tennis coaches still do not get the household-name shine of NBA or NFL coaches.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:56 Meet Brad Stine: Introduction to Coaching and Early Aspirations
04:31 The Journey into Coaching
06:36 Transitioning to the Pro ATP Tour
10:49 Coaching in the Modern Era
18:21 The Multifaceted Role of a Coach
25:43 The Psychological Aspects of Coaching
29:27 Building Trust with Players
35:08 The Evolution of Coaching in Tennis
43:11 Visibility and Recognition of Coaches
50:45 Responsibility and Accountability in Coaching
54:48 The Unsung Heroes of Coaching
01:00:18 The Future of Tennis Coaching
01:16:31 Quickfire Insights and Final Thoughts
01:23:00 Outro
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It’s our year-in-review fashion and culture edition. I’m joined by new Ground Pass contributor Kaya Courtside to break down the exhibition season and what it’s really like covering tennis behind the scenes, from UTS Finals in London to the chaos and charm of these off-season events. Then I hand out my 2025 tennis style “awards,” from best dressed and outfit of the year to the meme moments that took over our feeds. Plus, quick tennis news: the WTA’s Mercedes-Benz era begins in 2026, Garbiñe Muguruza joins Madrid’s leadership team, Serena’s testing-pool headline sparks speculation, and Next Gen is around the corner.
00:00 Introduction to the Year in Review
03:12 Introducing Kaya Courtside and UTS Finals
30:10 Exhibition Season and Upcoming Events
31:03 Fashion and Style Awards of 2025
36:11 Outfit of the Year and Brand Partnerships
41:58 Cultural Moments and Player Highlights
45:29 Tennis Photos and Memes of the Year
51:31 Most Stylish Tournament and Personality of the Year
58:52 WTA News and Future Predictions
01:04:44 Upcoming Projects and Wrap-Up
Links:
- GP Exhibition Deep Dive Episode - https://youtu.be/fjuxg3dzIXs?si=raOH2B8XOMWO7wrD
- The Real Challenger Documentary - https://youtu.be/fjuxg3dzIXs?si=raOH2B8XOMWO7wrD
- Off Season Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/offseasontv?igsh=MWJhaHZ4ano4NWlpeQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Off Season Tiktok -
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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 Background
02:54 Career Journey in Tennis Journalism
06:06 Transition to On-Camera Presence
09:08 Connecting with Players and Audience
12:03 Research and Preparation for Interviews
15:01 Innovations in Tennis Presentation
17:58 Advice for Aspiring Tennis Professionals
Links:
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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 Oscars
02:17 Best tournament
07:59 Best Match
15:23 Breakthrough Player of the Year
21:27 Biggest Plot twist
29:18 Best Off court moment of 2025
33:28 Quick Fire Categories
42:08 Tennis Story of the Year
47:39 Ground Pass Players of the Year
Links:
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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 Introduction
02:36 Q&A - The Absence of the US in the Davis Cup
06:49 The Evolution and Popularity of the Davis Cup
17:22 The Stories that dominated Davis Cup: No Sincaraz
18:29 Doubles deciders and Tiebreaks & Team Belgium
26:39 Team Spain: The underdogs
32:26 The dominance of Italian Tennis
38:51 Other News around Tennis
44:40 Mental and Physical Health in Tennis
52:19 Rafael Nadal's Comeback Journey
53:42 Roger Federer's Hall of Fame Induction
57:01 Fabio Fognini's Dancing with the Stars Journey
58:48 Groundpass Offseason Plans and Gift Guide
01:03:06 Groundpass Awards Preview
01:07:35 Outro
Links:
⁃Ground Pass Gift Guide - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/tournament-guides/-ground-pass-gift-guide-2025-the-best-tennis-gifts-of-the-season
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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
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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 Intro
00:55 ATP Finals Review
02:18 Player Performances
08:39 Zverev
11:27 FAA
16:19 Sincaraz
22:28 Doubles Matches
30:43 Davis Cup Preview
33:38 Tennis News
Links:
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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 Intro
01:55 Audience Q&A
09:00 WTA Finals review
52:22 ATP Finals Preview
01:12:46 The News Around Tennis
01:35:35 Outro
Links:
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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
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Anastasia and Nick recap a jam-packed week in tennis, from the glitz and glamour of the WTA Finals in Riyadh to the drama and breakthroughs at the Paris Masters. They debate the WTA’s fashion moment of the year, break down Madison Keys’ surprising serve change, and celebrate rising stars like Vicky Mboko and Janice Tjen. Plus, Valentin Vacherot continues to stun, FAA fights to reach Turin, and Bublik becomes a serious contender. It’s all happening—even after the US Open.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:08 Ground Passer Q&A
07:20 WTA Finals Update
08:38 Reaction to the WTA Player Photo
18:22 The Tennis results so far at the WTA Finals
28:52 Paris Masters Review
42:01 Editing Notes!
44:18 Voice Note from the Paris Masters
49:28 FAA's resurgence and the chaos of figuring out who mades the YEF
59:59 Bublik is a Top 15 Player!
01:05:15 Hong Kong Review - The WTA Next Gen tournament
01:12:51 What's coming next week on tour
01:14:58 Player of the Fortnight
01:21:56 Outro
Links:
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In this bonus episode of Ground Pass, Anastasia is joined by Jessica from Hard Court and Emily Snyder — partner of Shanghai Masters champion Valentin Vacherot — for a deep dive into the evolving “WAG-scape.” They discuss how tennis girlfriends and wives are reshaping fan culture, influencer partnerships, and visibility in the sport. Emily shares her whirlwind love story, how she balances her own career in sports business, and what life looks like as her boyfriend rockets into the ATP Top 40.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro to the WAG-scape
09:29 Who is a WAG?
10:37 How did Emily & Valantin meet?
17:09 Emily's Intro to the tennis world
23:50 Emily's Career Development
37:45 How Emily supports Val in his career
44:12 What's next for Emily
47:16 Outro
Links:
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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
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Anastasia and Nick are back for a full episode as the 2025 tennis season winds down. This week, they preview the WTA Finals in Riyadh — from format and field breakdowns to the Elena Rybakina vs. Mirra Andreeva qualification drama — and dive into the final Masters of the year in Paris. Plus: the ATP’s new Saudi Masters event, Davis Cup updates, and how the fall swing revealed just how worn out players are after a long year.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
04:06 Audience Q&A
07:39 WTA Finals Preview
36:38 Preview of the Paris Masters
48:58 Tour News Round-Up
01:00:28 Winners this Week on Tour
01:11:07 Tournaments This Week On Tour
01:13:11 Outro
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This week, Anastasia and Nick take on one of the most debated topics in tennis — exhibitions. From the Six Kings Slamin Saudi Arabia to Laver Cup, Hopman Cup, and UTS, they unpack why players play them, why fans argue about them, and how events like these actually shape tennis culture.
And Players of the Fortnight: Valentin Vacherot and Tereza Valentova.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:27 Audience Question
09:10 All about Tennis Exhibitions
10:03 The Controversy of Exhibitions
12:18 What is An Exhibition
14:23 Type 1 - The Money Exo
21:01 Type 2 - Charitable Exo
24:11 Type 3 - Competitive Exo
30:22 Why do players Play Exo
30:43 The Appeal of Exhibitions for Players
33:23 Reason 1: Mental Breaks
35:45 Reason 2: Money
37:44 Reason 3: Experiment & Train
40:48 Audience Perception
49:02 Exo's help promote the sport & The Issue of SA
52:04 Concluding Thoughts on Enjoying Tennis
53:08 Last week in Tennis
54:29 ATP Update
01:02:34 WTA Update
01:08:50 Injury Woes
01:11:25 Upcoming Tournaments
01:13:05 Player of the Fortnight: Vacherot and Valentova
01:20:39 Outro
Links:
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Anastasia breaks down the most surprising and satisfying weekend in tennis — the all-American final in Wuhan and the cousin showdown in Shanghai. From Coco Gauff perfecting the art of “winning ugly” to Valentin Vacherot and Arthur Rinderknech’s once-in-a-lifetime Masters final, this episode captures everything that made the weekend unforgettable.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
00:21 Coco Gauff's Journey to the Wuhan Final
05:53 Jessica Pagula's Gritty Path to the Final
10:46 The All-American Final: Gauff vs. Pagula
18:54 The Cousin Final: A Unique Tennis Story
36:33 Wrap-Up and Upcoming Events
Links:
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Beijing wrapped, Shanghai rolls—and we’ve got a voice note from Eddie McGhee (Tennis Asia) on what it’s like on the ground in Shanghai: humidity, facial-recognition entry, and a downtown fan zone screen. Plus: Anisimova’s title, Learner Tien’s breakout, Double-H back in the winner’s circle, Americans in Shanghai, and Players of the Fortnight: Eva Lys and Jerry Shang. Q&A lightning round too.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:59 Catching Up on Asian Tennis
17:30 Voice Note from Eddie of Tennis Asia
30:50 WTA Insights: Beijing Tournament Dynamics
55:25 Q&A Session: Listener Questions
01:00:59 Upcoming Tournaments and Player Highlights
01:02:57 Players of the Fortnite: Celebrating Achievements
01:08:45 Outro
Links:
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Ground Pass is turning 2! 🎉 In this special birthday episode, Anastasia and Nick look back on how Ground Pass began, what it stands for, and how it’s grown into a home for new and curious tennis fans.
They revisit the mission to make tennis more accessible, share the stories that shaped the show (including that first-ever voice memo), and reveal what it’s like building the podcast with just the two of them behind the mic. You’ll hear their first live tennis memories, favorite moments, dream collaborations, and what they want Year 3 to look like — more listener stories, more guides, and more chances to help fans experience tennis from the ground up.
Plus, audience Q&A! From Ben Shelton’s first Slam to Coco Gauff’s serve, US Open ticket tips, and the reality behind Ground Pass merch — your questions answered.
🎂 Happy Birthday to us… and to all Ground Passers who’ve been here since day one or just joined the family.
Chapters:
00:00 Birthday Celebrations and Groundpass Introduction
02:48 The Origins of Groundpass
18:16 The Evolution of Ground Pass
30:47 Get to know Anastasia & Nick
51:35 Audience Q&A
01:04:10 The Future of Ground Pass
Links:
Also We have Merch!!! And its on Sale for our birthday!
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This week’s mini pod covers three big topics:
🎾 The Asian Swing – ATP action in Tokyo & Beijing, WTA 1000 in Beijing, Challenger winners, and the growing “Ground Pass Effect.”
✈️ Our New Substack Series – On Tour With… featuring players like Ethan Quinn and Hailey Baptiste, following their first (or second) Asian swing experiences.
🎂 Ground Pass Turns 2! We’re celebrating with special birthday content, a bonus episode, merch discounts, and listener Q&A.
📅 Don’t forget: send your questions and voice notes by Friday, October 3 at 10PM ET for our special birthday episode dropping October 4.
Chapters:
00:00 Intro
01:00 Asian Swing Recap
26:07 On Tour With... Substack Series
30:24 Its Our Birthday & Whats Up this week in Tennis
Links:
Also We have Merch!!!
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop
💬 Don’t forget to give us FIVE STARS and drop us a comment ⭐️
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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Anastasia (recording from California) and Nick tackle the Asia swing’s time-zone brain melt, introduce our new Substack series On Tour With… (featuring Ethan Quinn’s first trip to Asia), and relive a wild team-events fortnight: Spain-Denmark grit, Belgium’s upset over Australia, and a tense USA-GB semifinal at the BJK Cup. We also unpack the Taylor Townsend IG controversy, share a listener voice note straight from the Korea Open (Pimm’s + Coke?!), debate the value of the Laver Cup, and crown our Players of the Fortnight: Rafael Collignon and Janice Tjen.
Links:
On Tour With Ethan Quinn - https://groundpass.substack.com/p/on-tour-with-ethan-quinn-in-chengdu
Ellie Ma Jelly: Documenting following her boyfriend on tour - https://www.instagram.com/elliemajelly?igsh=MWdteHU4Zjlkd2gxcA==
Served Live Podcast with Team Captains - https://youtu.be/8tj4Qh4WbrI?si=shKXvY4tuw60LHTk
Also We have Merch!!!
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Time Zone Challenges
02:45 Recap of Previous Episodes and Meet the Professionals
05:31 The Asian Swing & New Substack Series: On Tour With
12:54 Cultural Sensitivity and Recent Controversies
24:07 A Voice Note from the Korea Open
30:47 Emerging Players from Underrepresented Countries
32:47 Team Tennis - Davis Cup, BJK Cup & Laver Cup
33:42 Davis Cup Recap
43:17 Billie Jean King Cup
51:15 The Laver Cup: A Different Kind of Team Spirit
01:10:35 Next Week on Tour...
01:14:10 Player of the Fortnight
💬 Don’t forget to give us FIVE STARS and drop us a comment ⭐️
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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Anastasia sits down at the Cincinnati Open with Brian Garber, coach of Ethan Quinn, for a candid conversation about the realities of life as a pro tennis coach. From starting out feeding balls to kids and ladies’ teams, to learning under Brad Stine, to now guiding one of America’s most promising young players, Brian shares his coaching philosophy, the importance of relationships, and what it takes to survive the grind of the ATP Tour.
Also We have Merch!!!
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop
💬 Don’t forget to give us FIVE STARS and drop us a comment ⭐️
Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com
Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com
Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us for daily updates on Social:
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass
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Anastasia and Nick wrap up the final Grand Slam of the year with a full US Open 2025 review. From Carlos Alcaraz defeating Jannik Sinner in their third final of the season, to Aryna Sabalenka defending her title against Amanda Anisimova, we break down the biggest matches and storylines.
We also highlight Taylor Townsend’s run, Granollers & Zeballos’ doubles win, the fan experience on site (ticket prices, Armstrong vs Ashe, presidential delays), and our Players of the Fortnight. Plus, what’s next on the WTA and ATP tours with Guadalajara, São Paulo, and the Davis Cup tie in Delray Beach.
CHAPTERS
00:00 Grand Slam Season Reflection Intro
02:29 Men's Doubles Final Heartbreak
07:08 Women's Singles Final Analysis
17:16 The Future of Women's Tennis
23:19 Men's Singles Final Recap
36:56 Tournament Review: Highlights and Lowlights
01:08:34 Upcoming Tournaments and Player Of the Fortnight
01:13:11 Player of the Fortnight: Celebrating Achievements
01:17:44 Outro
👉 Let us know your favorite match or moment from the US Open in the comments!
Also We have Merch!!!
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop
💬 Don’t forget to give us a LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and drop us a comment ⭐️
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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The second part of our US Open Threads series dives into the fashion highs, lows, and surprises of the 2025 US Openwith Ian Mondul of 40 Love. Anastasia and Ian go through their faves (Musetti, Sabalenka, Venus, Townsend, Sinner/Alcaraz), the biggest misses (Draper’s Vuori debut, Tiafoe’s tiger stripes, Adidas Y-3 backlash), plus surprises like Paolini’s shimmering ASICS dress and doubles teams turning out in matching kits.
We wrap with overall takes on the rise of individuality in tennis fashion, why women’s kits outshone men’s, and the colors that ruled the Open: red and purple.
📺 Watch the video version on YouTube for slides and style breakdowns.
🎧 Listen to Part 1 with Jessica Schiffer (Hard Court) for the fashion x high-fashion crossover. - https://youtu.be/TkzNGPbDCUE?si=cz81m5wdIwXl42bF
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Ian’s background
04:15 Faves (Musetti, Sabalenka, Townsend, Venus, Sinner, Alcaraz, doubles teams)
33:26 Misses (Draper, Tiafoe, On, Adidas Y-3)
53:39 Surprises (ASICS shimmer, Lehecka, Townsend, Nike walkout kits)
1:03:04 Overall takes: sleeveless era, individuality, women’s kits better than men’s
01:11:00 Outro
Also We have Merch!!!
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/ground-pass-shop
💬 Don’t forget to give us a LIKE and SUBSCRIBE and drop us a comment ⭐️
Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com
Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com
Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com
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.