Iβll admit itβtrying to post these daily while covering the tournament for both Ground Pass and Black Spin Global might have been a little ambitious, especially at a 1000-level event like Indian Wells. At Delray, I had some downtime between matches. Here? Thereβs no such thing. From the moment I step onto the grounds, thereβs something happeningβa match to watch, a practice session to shoot, or a press conference to attend. And on Day 5, it all hit me.
A Packed Middle Weekend Begins ποΈ
Friday marked the first day of the middle weekend, and you could feel the shift. The crowds have been steadily building, but Friday is when things really took off. The busiest stretch of the tournament has officially begun.
The Heart of the Tournament ποΈ
A lot of the action at Indian Wells revolves around Stadium 1, which also houses the media center. Right next to it? The two main practice courts and the famous lawn area, where players warm up and hang out between sessions. Plenty of tournaments have tried to imitate this setup, but Indian Wells did it firstβand does it best.
Non-Stop Coverage & Connections π€
Today was a blur of running between practice sessions, matches, and press conferencesβwhich can come up suddenly, meaning you have to drop everything and go. But one of the highlights has been meeting and connecting with other journalists and people who work on the tours.
Players in Focus πΎ
π Ben Shelton remains one of the most popular faces on the practice courtsβwherever he goes, the crowds follow.
πΈ Got to shoot Chris Harrison & Evan King, who play their first match on Monday.
Quick Bites & Hard Truths π
Best spot for a quick bite on-site? Moto Odd Pizza. Turns out, Iβm not the only one who thinks soβitβs one of the most popular food stops on the grounds.
I ended the day early because I hit a wallβphysically and mentally. Had a real heart-to-heart debrief in the shuttle back to the parking lot. Some days, the focus just isnβt there, and thatβs okay. Thatβs what Ground Pass On-Site is all aboutβshowing the real experience, not just the highlights.
Tomorrow, we reset and go again.
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This keeps it real and reflective while still hitting all the key moments of the day. Let me know if youβd like any tweaks! ππΎ
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