NOTE: This episode was recorded on Nov 30th. Since then Jack Draper, Diane Parry and Qinwen Zheng have withdrawn from the tournament.

Welcome to the new tennis season! We are excited to chat with you about the upcoming United Cup and its exciting format that brings together men’s and women’s tennis. We delve into the team event, the players’ interactions, and the thrill of mixed doubles. We’ll also talk about the players in the field - Iga Swiatek, Hubi Hurkacz, Maria Sakkari, Katie Boulter & Alex De Minaur and some memorable moments from past tournaments. Plus, we discuss the impact of coaching changes and rise of the super coach. And to start of the new year we touch on the importance of environmental responsibility in tennis. So, grab a racket and get ready for some fun!

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to the New Season - Intro

02:01 United Cup 2025 - First tournament of the season

04:45 Where Can you watch the United Cup - Tennis Channel

06:26 Love for Tennis team events

17:12 A "Super Coach" diversion

20:39 Who else we are excited to see

21:45 Exciting matches to look forward too 

28:46 Doubles Dynamics and Player Returns

39:08 Sustainability in Tennis: A New Year’s Reflection

43:21 Outro

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• Ep 7 of GroundPass - https://pod.fo/e/20f7cd
• United Cup ticket sales - https://www.unitedcup.com/en/tickets/2025-tickets
• United Cup schedule - https://www.unitedcup.com/en/tournament/schedule

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It’s time to find out who’s next. Arthur Fils, Jakub Mensik, Learner Tien, Joao Fonseca, Alex Michelsen, Shang Juncheng, Luca Van Assche and Nishesh Basavareddy will all be vying for the chance to win the title of Next Gen this week in Jeddah. This is one of Anastasia’s favorite tournaments and she talks about what is great about it and why its such an important tournament. 

But what about the WTA? Well that’s where Nick puts together the potential top 8 women who would take part if there was a WTA version of this tournament. Tune in to see who they are.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• Ep 5 of GroundPass - https://pod.fo/e/205d40
• Next Gen Basecamp 2023 - https://youtu.be/reULcHoy5S0?si=BHv4fiQv4lPP0FMz

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A couple of exhibitions filled the void of competitive tennis in the US over the off season last week. Carlos Alcaraz, Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, Madison Keys & Sloane Stephens entertained sold out crowds in Madison Square Garden, New York, NY and Charlotte, NC.

What are tennis exhibitions and our thoughts on the genre; Anastasia breaks it down.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

YouTube Link to this Podcast Episode: https://youtu.be/GIpJ2i_wpo4 

Served Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/servedpodcast?igsh=eHk1Z3pyNnZlY2dw

Christian’s Court Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/christianscourt?igsh=bG4ydGdqa3plcW1k

The cutest video ever: https://www.instagram.com/p/DDSV-w5xAYm/?img_index=3&igsh=ejZheHltcGlpNHgx

Form for Ground Pass Year in Review: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/blog/ground-pass-year-in-review

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It’s time to pick our favorite moments from the 2024 season. Join Nick and Anastasia as they go through their favorite moments and what they are looking forward to in 2025. 

When you are done, share yours with us. Link below to a form you can fill.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

Nick’s Wimbledon Ticket Guide: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/blog/znfq0dmuw8v0f1b7gqqos44a5uuikg 

Nick picking Rebecca Sramkova: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C7aZMkAgeX2/?igsh=MTV2cnJvOW52d2gybg==

Form for Ground Pass Year in Review: https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/blog/ground-pass-year-in-review

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It was revealed on Thursday, November 28th that Iga Swiatek failed a doping test in August and was subsequently cleared of all wrong down. The reaction was fast and swift. We took our time here at Ground Pass to respond but here is ours. We can all be better fans.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• ITIA Documents: https://www.itia.tennis/news/sanctions/polish-tennis-player-iga-swiatek-accepts-one-month-suspension-under-tennis-anti-doping-programme/
• Taylor Fritz’s post: https://x.com/taylor_fritz97/status/1862212220291358860?s=46&t=34KFRaMxpc-93mq_1EOI7A
• Gill Gross’ Video: https://youtu.be/pMO5akJqaJQ?si=f1cJMBMdeS0AH-gn

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In this episode of Ground Pass things get a little loopy, haha. We are definitely settling into the off season vibes.

We try to keep the conversation on the rails though as we wrap up the tennis at Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup where Italy did the double lead by Jasmine Paolini and Jannik Sinner.

We also give a quick preview of what we have coming to you this off season. There might be no tennis but there will still be Ground Pass.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• WTA Weekly: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wta-weekly-paolini-inspired-italy-storm-to-billie-jean/id1652349752?i=1000677880550

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In this episode of Ground Pass, hosts Anastasia and Nick discuss a busy week in tennis, including the Billie Jean King Cup finals, Team USA & GB’s performance, and the ATP Finals. 

We also get a guest voice memo from Kvittycat53 on Bluesky.social, who attended the Billie Jean King Cup tournament in Malaga and gives us some great insights to the tournament.

Anastasia also shares insights from her experiences at a Challenger event and look ahead to upcoming tournaments, emphasizing the importance of supporting lower-tier events and discovering new talent.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• WTA Unlocked: https://www.wtatennis.com/unlocked
• ATP Challenger TV: https://www.atptour.com/en/atp-challenger-tour/challenger-tv

Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com

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In this episode, Anastasia and Nick discuss the recent WTA Finals held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, highlighting the venue, fan support, and key player performances. They reflect on the thrilling final match between Coco Gauff and Zheng Qinwen, emphasizing the significance of the event for the players and the tour. The conversation transitions to previewing the upcoming ATP Finals, discussing the top players and the tournament's location. In this episode, the hosts discuss the accessibility of tennis viewing options, particularly focusing on the ATP Finals and the recent changes in subscription models for Tennis Channel. They preview the ATP Finals, analyzing the groups and players, including Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz, and others. Its a jam packed episode.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• New Tennis Channel Subscription Details: https://www.tennis.com/news/articles/tennis-channel-to-unveil-direct-to-consumer-streaming-platform-november-12
• ATP Finals Practice videos: https://www.youtube.com/live/ewI3Us1mg7E?si=76r0tTFxPpHBDila

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The WTA Finals are here. 

In this episode, Anastasia provides a comprehensive preview of the WTA Finals, discussing the significance of the tournament, the top eight players competing, and their seasons leading up to this event. The conversation covers the history of the WTA Finals, the current location in Riyadh, and the unique format of the tournament. Listeners gain insights into each player's performance, challenges, and potential for success in the finals.

What are the WTA Finals, Where is it being played, Who is participating?

We answer all those questions in this episode of Ground Pass.

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• Where to watch the WTA Finals: https://www.wtatennis.com/broadcast

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A ramble episode discussing our favorite stories from this week in Tennis

Mentioned on the Podcast:

• Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard ATP Profile: https://www.atptour.com/en/players/giovanni-mpetshi-perricard/m0gz/overview

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