Ground Pass On-Site: Charleston – Day 4 Recap
That’s a wrap on Charleston! I’m back home now in cold, cold New York, recovering from a mild cold and already dreaming about the heat and humidity I was just complaining about. Honestly, who’s down for Monte Carlo next? 👀This was Quarterfinal Day at the Charleston Open—my final day on-site—and while things started a bit slowly, the matches delivered.Bouncing Between Courts (and Heatwaves)The schedule was back-loaded, so I spent most of the day jumping between courts, trying to keep up with the quarterfinal action. I just made it to Ekaterina Alexandrova vs. Diana Shnaider in time to catch Alexandrova’s win.She’d been quietly working her way through the draw, and watching her live gave me a new appreciation for her game—there’s a calm precision to how she plays that doesn’t always come through on TV.Between matches, I took time to shoot photos for a new photo series I’ve been working on: players + flowers. The Charleston grounds are full of colorful, blooming corners, and it felt like the perfect place to spotlight that blend of athleticism and environment.You can check out the full series on Instagram —and yes, Jessica Pegula reposted one of them, which was very cool.Sitting Down with Amanda AnisimovaBefore heading off to the next match, I got the chance to sit down with Amanda Anisimova, who opened up about her goals for this season.She later had to withdraw from her semifinal due to injury, but she’s staying positive, focused on the bigger picture, and has a good outlook on where things are headed. Audio from that interview is included below.Drama, Comebacks, and Classic CollinsWhile many of the day’s matches wrapped up in straight sets, Ashlyn Krueger and Emma Navarro gave us a three-set battle worth following.Still, I headed over to catch Danielle Collins vs. Jelena Ostapenko—and in true tennis fashion, things changed quickly. Jelena was serving for the first set when I left for the court. By the time I arrived, Danielle had won the set. That’s tennis for you. Blink, and everything flips.A Cocktail & A Pro TipI finally tried the Charleston Open’s signature cocktail—The First Serve—and it lived up to the name. Not too sweet, just right. Highly recommend if you ever find yourself here.And here’s a pro tip for next time:If you’re heading to a packed court (like Althea Gibson Stadium) after a big match finishes on Center Court, don’t follow the crowd. While the front entrance was backed up with a long line, I walked around to a side entrance—zero wait. There are three ways into that court. Choose wisely.Why Charleston Wins (and Why I’ll Be Back)When I came to the Charleston Open, I wanted to find out why it’s been named the WTA’s Best 500-Level Tournament three years in a row.Now I know: it’s the people.The staff, the volunteers, the fans, the vibe on the grounds—it’s all warm, welcoming, and deeply tennis-loving. It makes this tournament feel like home, even on your first visit.Thanks for following along with Ground Pass On-Site: Charleston Edition. Can’t wait to take you along for the next one.📩 Subscribe for the next stop on the tour (announcement coming soon!) 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
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