Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast · Anastasia Folorunso, Nick Carter

“Live” from Indian Wells its Ground Pass!

·52 min·2 clips

Lululemon dresses security, ball kids and umpires, and there is always a line at its store, which Fila never had.

1. Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast records its Indian Wells edition in person on day eight of the host's trip, covering the tournament experience and early-round tennis. 2. The host is joined by Ian, a returning guest usually featured in the show's Grand Slam fashion episodes, who has attended Indian Wells for four straight years. 3. Their central point is that the tournament keeps evolving, with Ian saying this first weekend is 'old mayhem' and busier than ever. 4. Ian attributes the crowding to Stadium 2's all-ticketed upper bowl, which locks out grounds-pass holders and pushes fans into long lines for Courts 3 through 6, so people now plan their days 'like a theme park.' 5. They praise the practice courts, where fans sprint in when gates open an hour before play, the big-screen lawn outside Stadium 1, and Ian's description of Palm Springs as a 'bubble' where you 'have no choice but to relax.' 6. The host calls Indian Wells 'the CES of tennis' in a Substack post, pointing to the Advantage Market of indie brands, Wilson launches, and the Desert Smash at La Quinta. 7. They discuss Lululemon, the new apparel sponsor that dresses security, ball kids and umpires, runs a cafe called Lala, and draws a constant line, which Fila never did. 8. On the American players, they note Learner Tien beat a visibly sick Ben Shelton in three sets with a patient style of moving opponents until he can pounce, and that Alex Kovacevic went from 0-14 at 1,000-level events to two wins and a Novak Djokovic match. 9. Press clips include Coco Gauff saying slow conditions force her into defense and that she needs to 'make some adjustments with the tension,' and Sonay Kartal saying Indian Wells resembles her home in Brighton. 10. Tennis fans planning a tournament trip will get the most from it.

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast