Australian Open Semis Finally Delivered - Alcaraz Survival, Djokovic Magic, Finals Preview

Australian Open Semis Finally Delivered - Alcaraz Survival, Djokovic Magic, Finals Preview

Author: Anastasia Folorunso, Nick Carter January 31, 2026 Duration: 37:48

We finally gets the semi-finals we were waiting for. We break down Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev and Jannik Sinner vs Novak Djokovic, including the cramping debate, the breakpoint chaos, and what it all means for a historic final. Plus, quick hits on Aryna Sabalenka vs Elina Svitolina, Elena Rybakina vs Jessica Pegula, the doubles and wheelchair finals, and a few tournaments we are tracking beyond Melbourne. Also, last call for the Ground Pass sweatsuit drop.


Links:


Chapters:

00:00 Australian Open Semi-Finals Recap

04:07 Women's Semi-Finals Overview

13:38 Men's Semi-Finals Highlights

19:49 Djokovic vs. Sinner: A Clash of Generations

23:50 Historic Final: Alcaraz vs. Djokovic

28:20 Doubles and Wheelchair Events Overview

34:14 Other Tournaments happening

37:03 Outro


We have Merch!!! 


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


💬 Don’t forget to give us a rating and drop us a comment ⭐️


Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com 

Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com 

Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com 


Follow us for daily updates on Social:

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


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.


Join hosts Anastasia Folorunso and Nick Carter for Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast, a conversation that goes beyond the baseline. This isn't just a recap of scores; it's a deep dive into the narratives that shape the sport. Each episode offers analysis of the ATP and WTA tours, the unique pressures of the Grand Slams, and the journeys of emerging talents, all while exploring how tennis intersects with broader culture and society. We unpack the strategy behind the big wins and share the lesser-known stories that happen off the court, aiming to provide context whether you're a lifelong fan or just finding your footing. The discussion is informed, accessible, and driven by a genuine passion for the game's intricacies and its personalities. Tune in to this podcast for a perspective that treats tennis not just as a sequence of matches, but as a continuous, evolving story. You'll find the podcast naturally covers the athletic, human, and cultural dimensions that make the sport compelling, all from a courtside seat that brings you closer to the action and its meaning.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Alex Eala Beat Five Champions and DC Proved a Point [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:58
Alex Eala won the DC Open by going through Qinwen Zheng, Leylah Fernandez, Naomi Osaka, Elina Svitolina, and Jessica Pegula, and became the first Filipino player to win a WTA singles title. This one is a solo pod, record…
Live from the DC Open, the Most Fun Week in Tennis (with Ava) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:56
We are live from the DC Open. The only tournament where you can record a podcast in the middle of the grounds and a player might pull up in the background.Watch our first dispatch from the grounds: https://youtu.be/xbFo_…
Tennis Has a Storytelling Problem (ft. Ryan Ng of Forty Love Studio) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:28
Nobody becomes a tennis fan from a highlight reel. This week, Ryan Ng of 40 Love Studio joins Anastasia to talk about the storytelling gap in tennis: the quirky grassroots characters going uncaptured, the six years Ryan…
Winning Wimbledon, and Still Being Invisible [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:20
Linda Noskova won Wimbledon, and we couldn't name a single storyline for her. Alex Eala and Coco Gauff lost and stayed everywhere. This week we sit with the gap between results and recognition: how a champion can go unno…
Alex Eala Took Out Swiatek and Took Over Wimbledon (Round Three) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:08
Alex Eala beat Iga Swiatek, hit the Wimbledon rocket ship, and became the story of Round Three. Ava was on the grounds to watch it happen. Anastasia was catching the ESPN version from a 101 degree New York, where the bro…
The Draw That Broke Everyone's Heart - Wimbledon Round 2 Recap [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:44
Round Two gave us the comeback we wanted and then the bracket took it right back. Grigor Dimitrov redeems last year's Centre Court heartbreak against Mensik, and the draw immediately pairs him with Berrettini, the other…
Tennis Media, Explained: Who Owns the Sport (with Chris Eubanks) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:42
Why does the same tournament charge different ticket prices for the men's and women's draws? Why can you bet on a match you're not allowed to stream? And do you really need seven subscriptions to follow the sport? Chris…