It was just one of those days.
A Wednesday. Middle of the week. The order of play? Not exactly inspiring at first glance—so, like most other attendees, I wandered toward the practice courts.
Even when I’m covering a tournament for Ground Pass, it’s nice to steal a quiet morning to regroup and reflect. Covering a tournament solo isn’t easy—don’t get it twisted—but I really do love it.
I headed toward Court 5, the smallest show court, because no matches were scheduled there. I figured it’d be a quiet place to sip coffee and reset. But I hadn’t checked the practice schedule.
Naomi Osaka was out there. And a quiet crowd had already gathered. So I joined them.
The Practice Courts
Some people treat the practice courts as a place to grab an up-close photo or maybe sneak an autograph—and fair enough. But they’re more than that. They’re where you can really learn about the game—especially when it’s quiet enough to hear the dialogue between player and coach.
After Naomi, Ben Shelton came out to hit. I’ve watched several of his practices with his dad, Bryan, and they’re always so insightful. If you’re on-site at a tournament, I highly recommend carving out time to watch players work on the little things.
Learner Tien and the Not-So-Upset
The match of the day? Maybe not in terms of seeding—but definitely in terms of shock and energy. Learner Tien beat Andrey Rublev, and while the rankings would call it an “upset,” I’m not so sure.
Tien has quietly put together a breakthrough year. This was his fourth top-10 win, after taking down Medvedev, Zverev, and Shelton. The crowd was pumped—but you could feel the surprise ripple through as Rublev lost. Learner, as always, seemed unphased. In press, he handled it all with calm confidence.
From the Media Room
• Daniil Medvedev was back in press with a classic quote or two. I asked him about the rise of tall players in the sport, and whether he thinks it signals the future of the game. 🎧 Audio below.
• Learner Tien, post-win, gave thoughtful answers about his development and staying grounded through this breakout season. 🎧 Audio below.
Venus, Baptiste, and Court 5 at Sunset
The biggest crowd of the day showed up for the doubles showdown between Venus Williams / Hailey Baptiste and Taylor Townsend / Zhang Shuai. The match was played on Court 5, and even though Team Venus lost, the vibe was immaculate.
Honestly, Court 5 might be my new favorite court on site—tight sightlines, great energy, and especially stunning as the sun starts to go down.
I spent most of my day there. No regrets.
Tiafoe Closes the Day
The evening wrapped with Frances Tiafoe grinding through a tough first-round win. It meant a lot—to him, and to the home crowd. He’s been vocal about wanting to win this title for years, and now he’s officially on his way.
Today’s order of play is stacked—including a can’t-miss matchup between Naomi Osaka and Emma Raducanu. It’ll be the headline on paper, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the outside courts steal the day again.
See you back for Day 6.
