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Rome Wraps, Roland Garros Opens, and the Book Bringing Sexy Back to Tennis

Rome Wraps, Roland Garros Opens, and the Book Bringing Sexy Back to Tennis

Author: Anastasia Folorunso, Nick Carter May 18, 2026 Duration: 1:27:33
Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast
SportsCultureEntertainmentNewsSocietySociety & CultureTennis

Rome is done and Roland Garros starts tomorrow. Anastasia is joined by Lucy Deuce for a tennis-friends-on-the-couch breakdown of one of the loudest weeks of the clay swing: Jannik Sinner completing the Career Golden Masters at 24, Elina Svitolina lifting a third Rome title and locking herself back into the top 10, and Coco Gauff fighting her way to a final the discourse swore she wouldn't reach. They also stop for a voice memo from journalist Hanlon Walsh on the ground in Rome, get into Gucci and the luxury-fashion-meets-tennis moment, and preview a Roland Garros draw that genuinely no one has figured out yet.

In part two, Anastasia sits down with Edward Schmidt, author of The Open Era — a queer, mental-health-forward tennis novel out June 2 (June 4 in the UK). This conversation also kicks off something Anastasia has been sitting on for nearly a year: the very first Ground Pass Book Club. Links to pre-order and to the book launch at The Strand in NYC are in the show notes.

Settle in, pour the coffee, this one is a long, juicy ride.


Chapters:

00:00 Intro

00:26 Highlights from the Rome Masters

08:31 Locking In for Roland Garros with Lucy Deuce

12:28 Fashion Meets Tennis: The Gucci Influence

18:30 Rome Tournament Highlights and Results

20:32 Jannik Sinner's Triumph in Rome

29:57 Elina Svitolina's Comeback and Impact on Women's Tennis

35:44 Coco Gauff's Journey and Resilience

43:55 Looking Ahead to Roland Garros

48:52 Interview with Edward Schmidt

51:53 Eddie's Journey into Tennis

54:12 The Open Era: Book Overview

57:36 Mental Health in Tennis

01:02:14 Cultural Moments in Tennis

01:03:22 The Impact of Social Media on Sports

01:06:48 Representation in Tennis

01:10:41 Coming Out in Sports

01:13:46 The Impact of Representation

01:15:36 Mental Health and Authenticity

01:26:24 Outro



Links:


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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: 50

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Ground Pass: A Tennis Podcast
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