Day 2 in Charleston started with coffee and a quick trip into downtown Charleston, which—believe it or not—was my first time in this part of South Carolina.
As Ground Pass grows, I’ve been thinking more about how to show the full experience of traveling for tennis. Because most of us don’t just go for the tennis—we turn it into a trip. A long weekend, a mini vacation, something more. So I want to start giving Ground Passers a better sense of what it’s like on the ground and in the city that hosts the tournament.
And if you know me, you know that the way I get to know a city is through coffee.
Madison Keys’ Coffee Rec of Choice: ☕️ Second State Coffee
During media day, I asked Madison Keys—who we know loves both her coffee and this city (she got married here last year)—for her favorite Charleston coffee spot. Without hesitation, she said: Second State Coffee.
She did not steer me wrong.
Great vibes, amazing coffee, and clearly a local favorite. In fact, I’m writing this newsletter from Second State right now.
While downtown, I also saw the horse carriage tours that Qinwen Zheng mentioned in her media day interview (which we included in yesterday’s newsletter). She said she had never been on a horse before and seeing them reminded her how much she would like to some day—and sure enough, there they were, trotting through downtown as I sipped my flat white.
Back on the Grounds: Tuesday Energy 🎾
Back at the tournament, Tuesday was packed. Yes, Tuesday.
It felt like a weekend. People showed up in their Sunday best, full hats and all, and the crowd energy was electric. It’s clear the Charleston Open is a major local event, and families come out even during the workweek.
This was the day that top seeds began their campaigns—
👟 Madison Keys
👑 Danielle Collins (defending champ)
🌟 And more getting their first matches in.
Meet the Players Sneak Peek 🎤
Today, I sat down with:
• Peyton Stearns & Diana Shnaider, who are playing doubles together
• Hailey Baptiste, coming off an incredible run at the Miami Open
These chats will be part of our Meet the Player series soon, but I’ve included a few teaser clips below. Full episodes coming soon 👀
Closing the Day with Sunset Tennis 🌅
We closed out the day watching Veronika Kudermetova (if you know, you know) and Amanda Anisimova. The sunset at Charleston was unreal—the golden light hitting the court as matches played on was one of those moments that reminds you why tennis in this setting is so special.
See you tomorrow for more from the grounds—
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