Welcome to the calm before the storm.
We are officially back on site for our first tournament of 2026, and we’ve landed at the Dallas Open. This is an indoor ATP 500, hosted in Frisco, Texas, inside The Star, the Dallas Cowboys’ training facility. We know this vibe, the stadium within a stadium. Just like the Miami Open but indoors.
This is my first time at this tournament, so I’m learning the site right alongside you. So far, so good. I arrived yesterday, picked up credentials, got the lay of the land, and eased in by catching some doubles. I watched Ben Shelton and Alex Kovacevic, a partner Shelton got through an instagram call out, pull out a third set tiebreak win over Grigor Dimitrov and his 19-year-old partner.
*Reminder that at the 500 level, the third set is a match tiebreak to 10. It made for a fun, low-stress way to start the week.
I also caught the beginning of Frances Tiafoe vs Terence Atmane, which delivered instant entertainment. Atmane walked out wearing the same custom Lululemon kit Tiafoe debuted at the Australian Open. According to our friend Blair Henley, the MC of the tournament, Atmane bought it straight from the Lululemon store as a bit of gamesmanship. Elite commitment to the bit. He took the first set, but once Tiafoe figured out the serve, he closed it out in three.
I arrived on site today in that quiet window before play ramps up. Day sessions start at noon, so it’s clinics on court and players getting their practice reps in. Everything here is under one roof. Center Court, a Grandstand court, and the practice courts all live in the same indoor space. Most players are staying at a hotel basically steps from the doors, which makes this one of the most self-contained tournament setups we’ve seen.
Over the next few days, we’ll be bringing you the full lay of the land. Courts, food, vibes, match flow, and all the little details that help you navigate a tournament like this. If you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments or DM us. Consider this your Dallas Open hotline.
First tournament of the Spring Swing. We’re officially underway.
We have Merch!!!
Ground Pass Shop - https://www.groundpasspodcast.com/shop
💬 Don’t forget to give us a rating and drop us a comment ⭐️
Subscribe to Our Substack at - https://groundpass.substack.com
Visit Our Website at - www.groundpasspodcast.com
Email us at - groundpasspodcast@gmail.com
Follow us for daily updates on Social:
Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ground_pass
Blue Sky: https://bsky.app/profile/groundpass.bsky.social
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ground_pass
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@GroundPass
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@groundpasspodcast
X: https://x.com/groundpasspod
