How many times can I say it’s super hot before it loses meaning? Because wow — it was super hot. Add in some classic East Coast humidity and the occasional flash thunderstorm, and you’ve got the full summer tennis experience.
I spent most of the day zig-zagging across the grounds filming for our upcoming Ground Pass Tournament Guide to the Newport Open and snapping photos for the website and socials. These solo media days are a bit of a whirlwind — I’m doing everything myself, and I’ll admit, I’m still not totally comfortable in front of the camera. But I keep pushing through because I really do love bringing you all the sights and sounds from the tournaments. And hopefully, it helps if you’re thinking about visiting one day too.
A couple standout moments from Day 2:
Seeing Tatjana Maria play up close was a treat. I’ve watched her on TV plenty of times, but courtside, you really get a sense of her unique game — the angles, the slices, the way she moves around the court. It’s such a different experience in person.
Also: Bernard Tomic was on the grounds today. Yes, that Bernard Tomic. I briefly considered trying to interview him… and then quickly chickened out. (One day.)
I genuinely didn’t think I’d get to speak with any players with the way the schedule (and weather) was going — but right at the end of the day, I went back-to-back with Caty McNally and Chris Eubanks. Caty and I chatted about her return from injury and what it was like facing her friend Iga Swiatek on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
And Chris offered great insight on how Newport’s grass compares to the lawns of Wimbledon — turns out, not all grass is created equal.
In the end, it was a very full day — muggy, chaotic, a little rain-soaked, but worth every second.
Back again today, possibly to watch a hedge fund manager make history… oh boy.
🎾 Enjoying the dispatches? Share this post with a tennis friend who loves the behind-the-scenes moments.
Share this post