Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast

Ava Wallace of The Athletic and Lucy Deuce join me for WTA Finals week at Indian Wells. We recorded on Wednesday, November 11, in the middle of the round robin stage.
We start with the move from Riyadh to an outdoor event in the California desert: the sold-out Sunday, the Coco Gauff fans, and Gunna in the stands. Ava shares what the director of the Pop It video told her about Coco’s cameo. Then we get into Jessica Pegula’s hot mic and the WTA taking responsibility for it, and whether Mirra Andreeva should take “diva” personally. We also cover her win over Elina Svitolina, Marta Kostyuk’s wrist, and Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in the doubles.
Coco Gauff says round robin has to change. Lucy and Ava agree with her, and I’m the lone defender. After that, we review the WTA Finals photo shoot like it’s the Met Gala. We also talk about why the Finals need promotion from January, what Charlotte has to get right next year, and Madison Keys in the commentary booth.
We wrap with the men: Holger Rune back in Stockholm, Taylor Fritz adding tournaments, Casper Ruud and David Ferrer, and Juan Carlos Ferrero joining Ben Shelton’s team.
Read Ava Wallace and Matthew Futterman’s piece in The Athletic: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7763263/2026/11/08/tennis-wta-sponsorships-media-rights-business-tour-finals/
Watch the full episode on YouTube, and find more at groundpasspodcast.com.

Follow Ava Wallace: https://www.instagram.com/avarwallace
Follow Lucy Deuce: https://www.instagram.com/lucyydeuce

Chapters
00:00 Intro Weather check-in
04:48 Back to the Tennis - WTA Finals is heating up
11:33 WTA Finals in the desert is a vibe
14:05 Cultural Connections in Tennis
16:25 Our take on the Hot mic
22:33 Mirra Andreeva handled the drama well
26:40 Marta Kostyuk is getting her bag
28:06 Injury Concerns and Player Attitudes
28:57 Doubles Surprises and Unexpected Performances
30:31 Round Robin Format: Pros and Cons
38:41 Fashion Police: The WTA Finals Photo Shoot
50:26 Untapped Potential of Women's Tennis
58:11 Madison Keys new role
01:02:22 Holger Rune returns
01:05:36 Taylor Fritz: Stubbornness and Strategy
01:10:20 Coaching Changes and Future Prospects
01:17:37 Outro

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For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com

To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop

Where You can Find us Online:

Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com
Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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

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

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

💬 Thank you for Listening.
Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you.

For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com

To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop

Where You can Find us Online:

Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com
Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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

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

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

Links:
Watch Anastasia's interview with Bryan Shelton: https://youtu.be/U1IOObky2UE?si=m4EXDCRswyDfoxik
Lucy Deuce on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ ⁨@LucyDeuce⁩
Lucy Deuce on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucyydeuce
Gil Gross: https://www.youtube.com/@gillgross

💬 Thank you for Listening.
Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you.

For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com

To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop

Where You can Find us Online:

Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com
Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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

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

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
48:35 Siniakova is not only a Doubles GOAT
50:52 This Week in Tennis the 500s take over - Alcaraz, Zverev, Venus Williams and Naomi Osaka

Links:
Past Episode on Davis Cup - https://youtu.be/3manT7eO9-U?si=4hp9O4fcacoK4Cld
Past Episode on United Cup - https://youtu.be/9qGQFVL0AUA?si=cRvgdM0FEG9gMQLy
Past Episode on Laver Cup (Clip) - https://youtu.be/7o6aEW-n4ek?si=VavlHOelUKv5tvTI
Past Episode on Laver Cup - https://youtu.be/wW4ifmHIyn8?si=WVGk8fAk7xcQFFNP

💬 Thank you for Listening.
Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you.

For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com

To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop

Where You can Find us Online:

Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com
Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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

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

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.

In the Realm of Perfection: McEnroe documentary - https://tubitv.com/movies/684798/john-mcenroe-in-the-realm-of-perfection?utm_source=web_share&utm_medium=Share&utm_campaign=copy_link&utm_content=title_detail_page
Valarie Camillo interview on Served - https://youtu.be/Fohc1DwBZ3g?si=jvafJiPWOTwrizw3

Chapters:
00:00 Intro and movie chat
07:09 Part 1 - End of Year Finals - Why should you care
11:45 Does the WTA and ATP Finals Structure make it hard to promote?
23:20 Location, Location and how important its is to the Finals
27:14 How would we fix the End of Year Finals
33:40 Who is in and who is out of the Finals?
42:52 Part 2 - The Tennis News of the Week
43:20 Sonay Kartal and Maja Chawalinska played the perfect final
47:32 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Rafa Jodar play the all Spanish Final
55:33 Rafa Jodar's villain origin story
01:04:49 The Six King Slam is off and Alcaraz, Djokovic and Fritz are not taking the week off
01:07:12 Joao Fonseca and Eva Lys are the recent players to end their season early
01:09:29 Part 3 - This Week in Tennis
01:14:48 A Bit of College Tennis Drama
01:19:16 Outro

💬 Thank you for Listening.
Leave us a 5⭐️ star rating and drop us a comment we would love to hear from you.

For Bonus Content and find out what tournament we are off to next, subscribe to our free newsletter - https://groundpass.substack.com

To Support Ground Pass - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/support

Shop the Ground Pass Merch - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop

Where You can Find us Online:

Website - www.groundpasspodcast.com
Email - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com

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

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