I got to the grounds early on Day 3—the first day of the main draw—hoping for a calm start and some time to catch up on everything. But I wildly underestimated what Day 1 of the main draw would actually entail. Before I knew it, matches were underway, Ethan Quinn and Victoria Mboko had both won their first-round matches, and we were already heading into press.
But let’s back up.
What were the grounds like on a Monday in DC, the first day of the main draw? Packed.
Sometimes tournaments start slow—weekday crowds trickle in, the energy builds. Not here. A line had already formed before the gates opened, with fans rushing to grab their spots at the practice courts or catch the first matches of the day.
I met a lovely Ground Pass listener—hi Randy (hope I’m spelling that right!)—who told me she had taken two days off work just to be here. I’m guessing that’s the case for a lot of folks: they plan ahead and treat this tournament as a mini summer holiday. Randy was hoping to see Naomi Osaka, but since she’s not playing until Tuesday, she made the most of it by catching her practice session. A small consolation. Honestly, tennis could do a better job helping fans plan which days to attend—but that’s a topic for another post.
And for everyone who’s said hi on the grounds or mentioned the podcast or social—please keep doing that. I love chatting tennis with you, and it helps us know what things you are interested in learning about.
Around the Grounds
As the matches wrapped up, the press mixed zone got busy. (For those new here: the mixed zone is a small interview area courtside with a step-and-repeat backdrop where players do quick press after wins or losses.)
I spoke with Victoria Mboko about what it might feel like to return to Canada for her home WTA 1000 event—especially after her meteoric rise this season. She hasn’t played there since her breakout, and she’s guaranteed a hero’s welcome. 🎧 Audio from our chat is below.
We also recorded a 1-on-1 interview for an upcoming special episode of the podcast called Dispatches from Ground Pass On Site. We get so many great interviews during tournaments, and we’re excited to start collecting them in one series where you can really get to know these players and their personalities.
Also in the mix:
• Matteo Arnaldi told me about his custom basketball warm-up shirts with his name on the back
• Dan Evans explained why skipping the Olympics was never an option last year
Doubles, Venus, and Durant
While Center Court sat half-full for parts of the day, the outer courts were buzzing—especially for doubles. Nick Kyrgios and Gaël Monfils put on a show, but the real draw was Venus Williams teaming up with Hailey Baptiste.
They won their match against Eugenie Bouchard and Clervie Ngounoue, and I was able to ask both Venus and Hailey what the moment meant to them. I also spoke with Genie about her decision to retire—more on that soon.
Oh, and casually in the crowd? Kevin Durant. He walked right by me while I was waiting in the mixed zone. It was another reminder of just how accessible this tournament is. To get from the player area to the courts, players walk a short path through the fan zone. No tunnels, no hidden walkways. Just a narrow path through the crowd—and everyone has been respectful, with players often stopping for a selfie or a quick chat.
The day ended as the sun set over a packed Center Court for the doubles match between Frances Tiafoe & Ben Shelton and the Aussie pair John Peers & Matt Ebden.
Not a bad way to close out a wild, wonderful first day of main draw action.
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