February Is the Best Month in Tennis (And We Can Prove It)

February Is the Best Month in Tennis (And We Can Prove It)

Author: Anastasia Folorunso, Nick Carter February 23, 2026 Duration: 1:04:51

Anastasia is back from Delray Beach and has thoughts. A lot of them. This week, we get into why February might just be the best month on the tennis calendar, what it was actually like on the ground at the Delray Beach Open, and why the draw felt more like a 500 than a 250. We also break down Jessica Pegula winning Dubai, the WTA’s new Tour Architecture Council, the debate around getting rid of 250-level events, and whether anyone can actually stop Carlos Alcaraz right now. Plus: player clips from Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, and Coleman Wong on tour life, 250s, and representing Hong Kong on the pro circuit. And we have an update on what the OFF SEASON cast is up to as the US spring swing kicks off.


Links:



Chapters:

00:00 Technical Difficulties and Weather Woes

01:59 Delray Beach Tournament Overview

09:52 The Future of 250 Tournaments

24:39 Dubai Tournament Highlights

29:38 The WTA rethinking their schedule

33:20 Jessica Pegula's Consistency and Victory

38:11 The Impact of Alex Eala on Tennis

42:32 Doha: Sinner searching, Alcaraz unstoppable

48:46 Goran Ivanisevic is back

51:07 February: The Best Month for Tennis

56:17 Upcoming Tournaments and Player Highlights

01:03:05 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: 100

Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast
Podcast Episodes
It will be life changing for anyone who wins Roland Garros [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:09
The Finals are set between Mirra Andreeva and Maja Chwalinska & Alexandar Zverev and Flavio Cobolli. WE had such fun stories to get here.▶ Watch next: OFF SEASON, Episode 7 — https://youtu.be/DBEQ8JbqyMA?si=-B8rgYbIId5eG…
Roland Garros Week 1 Recap - Sinner, Gauff, Djokovic Out so who is in? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:01:18
Mid way through Roland Garros 2026 and this one is already for the history books. The quarterfinals are set. Its anybodies tournament.▶ Watch next: OFF SEASON, Episode 7 — https://youtu.be/DBEQ8JbqyMA?si=-B8rgYbIId5eGxaI…
Upsets, Gucci, and Doubt: Rome Week One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:23
Nick is back from a birthday recharge in Wales and we're getting into Rome. Sinner is playing in all-black Gucci and closing in on the Career Masters at 24. Arthur Fils, Ben Shelton, Fonseca, and FAA are all out or strug…
Hailey's Breakthrough, Sinner's Streak, and Rome on Deck [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:39
A mini pod to wrap Madrid and look ahead to Rome. We get into Hailey Baptiste's career-best run, Marta Kostyuk's unbeaten clay season (and the backflip we didn't know we needed), Mirra Andreeva's two finals, Townsend and…
Alcaraz Is Out, Madrid Gets Weird, and a New Roland Garros Champion? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:58
Carlos Alcaraz is out of Rome and Roland Garros, and the men's draw in Madrid has cracked wide open. Anastasia and Nick break down what the wrist injury means for Paris, why Rafa Jodar and Daniel Merida are the names to…
Why the Charleston Open Feels Different [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:45
Anastasia is back from the Charleston Open with a full on-site recap of one of the most beloved stops on the WTA calendar. She breaks down Jessica Pegula’s title defense, Yulia Starodubtseva’s breakthrough run, and why C…