United Cup Is Back, Alcaraz Drops a Bombshell, and Tennis Culture Has a Note

It’s the last episode of Season 2, but it honestly feels like a season opener. Tennis is doing that thing where it barely lets us breathe before the next story hits, and we love it. In Episode 72, we get ready for the United Cup, the mixed team event that always feels like a mini-Slam because the stars actually show up and the stakes feel real right away. The format is simple and addictive. Singles, singles, then doubles, with national pride baked into every point. It’s a perfect “welcome back” event after the off-season, and it’s also a sneaky-good preview of who might be ready to make noise at the Australian Open.

From there, we step into a totally different kind of sports conversation. Heated Rivalry has become the rare piece of sports entertainment that pulls in people who do not even follow the sport yet. That ripple effect is the dream, and it’s why we talk about it through a tennis lens. The most interesting part is not just the show itself. It’s the reaction. Hockey spaces are enjoying the ride, while tennis tends to lead with complaints and technical notes instead of letting a project simply do its job as entertainment. If tennis wants its own “Drive to Survive moment,” part of the work is cultural. We have to let people discover the sport in different ways.

Then we get to the headline that still does not feel real. Carlos Alcaraz and Juan Carlos Ferrero splitting after seven years. That partnership has been part of Alcaraz’s entire rise, and it’s going to color every conversation in Australia, whether that’s fair or not. We talk through what we know, what we do not, and why the first few big Alcaraz matches of 2026 are going to come with extra pressure attached. 

We also hit the injury news that stings. Jack Draper is out of the Australian swing as he continues recovering from his left arm injury. Draper has been one of the most compelling “could he break into the top-top tier?” stories lately, so having him sidelined again is brutal for fans and for the season narrative. 

And because it’s Ground Pass, we also make room for the fun stuff. A Nike tennis hiring post that feels like a tiny signal that kits might finally start getting the attention they deserve again. A quick look at what’s happening beyond the United Cup, including Brisbane, Auckland, and Hong Kong. Plus a peek at what we’re building in 2026, with Ground Pass leaning even harder into being your “Wirecutter for tennis tournaments,” meaning the place you go when you’re trying to figure out where to sit, when to buy, what it costs, and how to actually do a tennis trip properly.

Season 3 starts immediately. Because of course it does.