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Matches had already started by the time I hit record today, because I spent my morning doing something I’m really excited about. I recorded an interview for a new Meet the Professionals episode with the voice of the Challenger Circuit, Mike Cation. Consider this your little sneak peek because that conversation was so good. If you’ve ever wondered how people actually build careers around tennis media, Mike has the kind of practical advice that makes you want to take notes.
Then I walked straight into my first Dallas Open problem of the day: Eliot Spizzirri and Ethan Quinn were both up first. On separate courts. Which meant I was doing that very specific tennis fan cardio where you’re trying to watch two matches at once without missing the momentum swings.
The good news is the Dallas Open makes this easier than it sounds. There’s a small walkway that connects the courts, so I could post up with Eliot for a few games, hustle over to Ethan for a few games, and basically start my day feeling like a ping pong ball.
The Dallas Open is one big, self-contained tennis world
Today’s episode is me taking you around the grounds because I wanted you to get a real sense of the site. The Dallas Open is hosted in Frisco, Texas, just outside Dallas, at the Ford Center. It’s the home of the Dallas Cowboys, and the neighborhood definitely has Cowboys energy. I know nothing about football. I’m a one-sport kind of gal. But I kind of love that this ATP stop has made itself at home in a space like this.
What stood out to me is how self-contained it is. Everything is right there. The merch shop, the sponsor activations, the seating, the fan zone, the matches. It feels like a one-stop tennis ecosystem.
The fan zone, night sessions, and when this tournament really comes alive
Outside, there’s a fan zone area with a big screen where people can watch matches, plus merch and games and all the little things that make a tournament feel like an event. During the day, most people are inside watching the matches. But at night, that fan zone fills up. Kids are out of school, families roll in, and you can feel the place shift into a different gear.
And I love that. Because this is exactly where tennis wins. A small tournament is one of the best places for a kid to see a pro up close for the first time and appreciate the game from a young age.
Yesterday, I watched Sebastian Korda stay after his match and sign what felt like every single ball, hat, and water bottle that made its way to him. That kind of access is what makes smaller tournaments special. You’re not getting that same experience at a massive Grand Slam, even if you’re spending Grand Slam money.
The best angles, the sponsor store, and casually watching Grand Slam champs
After a few hours (and a lot of roaming for “the best angles,” as always), I ended up back inside in the main open area you’ve probably seen behind me in these daily dispatches. Off to one side is the BOSS sponsor store. On the other side is seating for the grandstand and match viewing.
And this is the thing I keep coming back to. You can be sitting there casually watching doubles and realize, oh wait, those are Grand Slam champions on court.
Today it was Granollers and Zeballos vs Krajicek and Mektic. Grand Slam titles, major experience, elite doubles tennis, right in front of you. Marin Čilić is in this field too. Grand Slam champion. Quarterfinalist here. It’s kind of wild.
My Dallas takeaway: 2026 is the year of the small tournament
I’ve said this a few times on the pod, but being here has cemented it for me. I really think 2026 should be the year of the small tournament.
I think a lot of people feel like they need US Open money to enjoy live tennis. You don’t. Not even close.
These smaller events give you high-level tennis, real access, and an atmosphere that feels easy to move through. You can actually get your bearings. You can actually see players. You can actually have the kind of day where you watch a match, wander to another court, stumble into doubles, grab food, run into someone you recognize, and feel like you’re part of the tournament instead of just a ticket holder.
A quick note on player life at these stops
One detail I wanted to share because it’s easy to forget if you’ve never been around tournaments like this. When a player loses early, they often don’t immediately disappear.
For example, Flavio Cobolli lost early but stayed because he’s still playing doubles. Learner Tien lost his first round and was still around the grounds. Same with Mattia Bellucci. Players often get a couple extra hotel days even after they lose. There’s food. There are practice courts. It makes sense to stay, train, reset, and only move on when it’s time for the next stop.
So if you show up on day two thinking you “missed” someone, you might still catch them around the site, especially at these smaller tournaments.
Closing out Dallas, heading to Delray
This was my last day in Dallas and I’ve genuinely loved getting to know this tournament and showing you around. I also got to catch up with the Off Season guys, Eliot and Ethan, and talk a little about their journey from Australia back home to playing in front of a home crowd. They both won their first matches, and then both went out today, which is tough. But it also means they’re onto the next chapter.
And for me, next up is Delray. Another small, intimate stop, and another chance to prove my point that you don’t need Grand Slam money to have a world-class tennis experience.
See you there.


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Day 2 and the tournament officially came alive.
What felt like the calm before the storm yesterday turned into a packed house, a buzzing fan zone, and a full slate of matches that made this compact indoor event feel big.
Morning Coffee… with Women’s Tennis
I started my day “busy watching women’s tennis” in my Rich Sport tee, locked into Mirra Andreeva vs Victoria Mboko in Doha. Yes, I’m at an ATP event. No, that does not stop me from multitasking across tours.
By the time I got to site, it was about 10:45a. Day sessions start at noon here, so you get this quiet window of clinics and practices before everything ramps up.
Grandstand Is the Move
I will be spending most of my Day 3 on the Grandstand watching the boys from the OFF SEASON.
First up: Ethan Quinn vs Trevor Svajda.
Then: Eliot Spizzirri (wild card into the main draw) vs James Duckworth.
If you’ve been following Off Season, you know this is where my focus has been. I spent a good chunk of yesterday interviewing Ethan and Eliot and filming them practicing together. Now that they’re back in the U.S. for the Spring Swing, we’re continuing to document the journey. It’s a little scrappier this time because I’m filming solo, but I’m excited about what we’re capturing.
We’ll keep building out this Spring Swing chapter.
Yesterday’s Standouts
The tournament had a generational moment early on with Marin Cilic notching his 600th career tour win against Learner Tien. Tien is in his 20s. Cilic is 37. That perspective alone was special to witness.
The night session had serious energy. The Dallas Open is sponsored by BOSS, which also sponsors Taylor Fritz, and they leaned all the way in. Fans were handed BOSS headbands, complete with a “how to wear it” card referencing Fritz’s upside-down headband moment against Novak Djokovic. The brand has embraced it. The crowd did too.
Later in the night, Ben Shelton closed out his match efficiently against Gabriel Diallo after a long day session. I also had a quick chat with Ben about his vlog and how he’s approaching content this season. Always interesting seeing how players are thinking about storytelling alongside competition.
And defending champion Denis Shapovalov looked sharp. Efficient. Focused. He has points to defend and he is playing like it.
The Vibe
Last night, the fan zone was genuinely lively. Music. Kids in serving games. A packed indoor center court. For a “small, cute” tournament, it punches above its weight when the seats fill.
The entire event is still incredibly contained. Center Court, Grandstand, practice courts, and a small outdoor tented fan zone. That’s it. You’re in the bubble once you’re inside. Yesterday it was cold and rainy in Texas, which would have changed everything at an outdoor event. Instead, play rolled on uninterrupted.
I get it, this is not Indian Wells scenery. It’s more Miami Open stadium-within-a-stadium energy. But for what it is, they execute it well.
Should You Come?
If you live in the South and want access to a stacked field in a compact, easy-to-navigate venue, this is a strong option. Especially if you like indoor tennis and close proximity to players.
We’ll keep answering your questions as they come in. I ran a mini Q&A on Instagram and will keep folding those into these dispatches.
Come back tomorrow to see how Day 3 went. We’re just getting started. 🎾


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit groundpass.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to the calm before the storm.
We are officially back on site for our first tournament of 2026, and we’ve landed at the Dallas Open. This is an indoor ATP 500, hosted in Frisco, Texas, inside The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ training facility. We know this vibe, the stadium within a stadium. Just like the Miami Open but indoors.
This is my first time at this tournament, so I’m learning the site right alongside you. So far, so good. I arrived yesterday, picked up credentials, got the lay of the land, and eased in by catching some doubles. I watched Ben Shelton and Alex Kovacevic, a partner Shelton got through an instagram call out, pull out a third set tiebreak win over Grigor Dimitrov and his 19-year-old partner.
*Reminder that at the 500 level, the third set is a match tiebreak to 10. It made for a fun, low-stress way to start the week.
I also caught the beginning of Frances Tiafoe vs Terence Atmane, which delivered instant entertainment. Atmane walked out wearing the same custom Lululemon kit Tiafoe debuted at the Australian Open. According to our friend Blair Henley, the MC of the tournament, Atmane bought it straight from the Lululemon store as a bit of gamesmanship. Elite commitment to the bit. He took the first set, but once Tiafoe figured out the serve, he closed it out in three.
I arrived on site today in that quiet window before play ramps up. Day sessions start at noon, so it’s clinics on court and players getting their practice reps in. Everything here is under one roof. Center Court, a Grandstand court, and the practice courts all live in the same indoor space. Most players are staying at a hotel basically steps from the doors, which makes this one of the most self-contained tournament setups we’ve seen.
Over the next few days, we’ll be bringing you the full lay of the land. Courts, food, vibes, match flow, and all the little details that help you navigate a tournament like this. If you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments or DM us. Consider this your Dallas Open hotline.
First tournament of the Spring Swing. We’re officially underway.

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Saved the best for last. You probably don’t know this about me, but I love plants. I pretty much live in a greenhouse. So when I first stepped onto the grounds of the new Cincinnati Open I knew I had to talk to whoever was responsible for the landscaping.
The person responsible for creating this tennis secret garden is Christopher LaMond. He has been with the tournament for 15 years, and I got to sit with him to talk about how the design came together for the new landscaping for the tournament using the theme “Tennis Garden.”
One of my favorite takeaways from the chat is how this is a living, breathing organism. This year lays the foundation for the next and will only be better as the years go on.
Today was my last day on the grounds, and I took it slow and easy as I do most last days at a tournament.
Player Interviews
* Ella Seidel – who had such a great run this tournament and got herself into the Top 100.
* Carlos Alcaraz – who continues to find his form and talked about what it’s like waiting to play his match.
* Evan King and Chris Harrison – the No. 1 doubles team in the U.S. They have come a long way from not being able to enter even qualifying of tournaments with their ranking to now being in the Top 20 of the world.
Last year I attended my first Challenger in Champaign, Illinois, and first interviewed Evan King there. It was a small venue with a little crowd, and at the end of this interview he said to me: “We’ve come a long way since Champaign.”
We have come a long way. Ground Pass has grown so much since then, and I am grateful to all of you that make that possible. Below is the video we made at that Challenger.
What’s Next
Next stop for us — New York, baby. US Open. So much more to come.


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Let’s start the Day 6 recap with an apology. I have failed you.
I had grand ideas of doing a full-on mukbang while covering the food at the Cincinnati Open. But it’s been a long summer of traveling to tennis tournaments, and between trying to save on costs and also eat a little healthier to keep my energy up on site, it just didn’t happen.
That said, when it comes to food, the Cincinnati Open definitely gives you a taste of the local cuisine. If you want to try the delicacy that is Skyline chili, you can dive right in. And there are plenty of other options too, so you can always find something that works for you.
There are also water refill spots all around the grounds. I’d encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle to save on buying water, but if you want to grab something from the merch shop, a water bottle is the way to go. It even comes with ice that you can use while you’re here. I bought a white one last year, and this year they had a blue version—it took all my willpower not to get another.
Which brings me to the Merch Store, always a popular stop on site. Lines form early, and it feels like everyone has some piece of merch. If you’re going to buy one thing, I’d recommend the water bottle.
Player Interviews
The post-match interviews of the day were:
* Terence Atmane – After his win against João Fonseca. This is now part of a Meet the Player episode. Watch it below.
* Jessica Bouzas Maniero – After her win against Taylor Townsend. She’s had a really strong year and continues to solidify her position as Spain’s No. 2 woman.
* Holger Rune – Came through press. And discussed how he handled he heat on a particularly hot day.
* Emma Raducanu & Aryna Sabalenka – Their match was the Match of the Day. Both came through press afterward, and I’ll be making a Match Story about this one.
Emma
Aryna
* Taylor Fritz – Answered the important question: what’s the right technique for breaking a racket?
🎧 All interviews are linked.


This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit groundpass.substack.com/subscribe