Clay Season Is Here. Sinner vs Alcaraz, Vacherot’s Monte Carlo Run, and Lilli Tagger’s Breakthrough

Clay Season Is Here. Sinner vs Alcaraz, Vacherot’s Monte Carlo Run, and Lilli Tagger’s Breakthrough

Author: Anastasia Folorunso, Nick Carter April 14, 2026 Duration: 1:20:34
Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast
SportsCultureEntertainmentNewsSocietySociety & CultureTennis

This week on Ground Pass, Anastasia and Nick settle in for the start of the European clay season and break down a busy week across Monte Carlo and Linz. They get into another chapter of the Sinner vs Alcaraz rivalry, the magic of Valentin Vacherot’s run at his home Masters, and why Monte Carlo keeps ending up on every tennis fan’s travel wish list.


They also talk about Lilli Tagger’s breakout week in Linz, Mirra Andreeva’s title run, Billie Jean King Cup qualifiers, Holger Rune’s return timeline, Coco Gauff and the conversation around how athletes are discussed online, plus the latest from Ground Pass including the new spring merch drop and what to watch this coming week.


Links:



Chapters:

00:00 Home Sweet Home: A Week of Rest

02:47 A Voice Memo from Monte Carlo

10:06 The fairytale continues for Valentin Vacherot

13:58 Sincaraz Finals are back

26:51 American Players on Clay: A Struggle

30:40 Another hometown run in Linz - But first Ostapenko

33:57 Lilli Tagger has arrived

36:49 An inspired Austrian Anastasia Potapova

38:14 Mirra Andreeva's Resilience in Finals

41:44 Billie Jean King Cup Qualifiers Overview

44:58 Holger Rune's Comeback Announcement

47:14 Coco Gauff's Social Media Controversy

52:45 Monte Carlo Merch Controversy

59:23 Our New Merch is live

01:01:36 Coming up "This Week in Tennis"

01:14:22 Players of the Fortnight

01:19:51 Outro



We have Merch!!! 


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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: 100

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