Matches had already started by the time I hit record today, because I spent my morning doing something I’m really excited about. I recorded an interview for a new Meet the Professionals episode with the voice of the Challenger Circuit, Mike Cation. Consider this your little sneak peek because that conversation was so good. If you’ve ever wondered how people actually build careers around tennis media, Mike has the kind of practical advice that makes you want to take notes. Then I walked straight into my first Dallas Open problem of the day: Eliot Spizzirri and Ethan Quinn were both up first. On separate courts. Which meant I was doing that very specific tennis fan cardio where you’re trying to watch two matches at once without missing the momentum swings. The good news is the Dallas Open makes this easier than it sounds. There’s a small walkway that connects the courts, so I could post up with Eliot for a few games, hustle over to Ethan for a few games, and basically start my day feeling like a ping pong ball. The Dallas Open is one big, self-contained tennis world Today’s episode is me taking you around the grounds because I wanted you to get a real sense of the site. The Dallas Open is hosted in Frisco, Texas, just outside Dallas, at the Ford Center. It’s the home of the Dallas Cowboys, and the neighborhood definitely has Cowboys energy. I know nothing about football. I’m a one-sport kind of gal. But I kind of love that this ATP stop has made itself at home in a space like this. What stood out to me is how self-contained it is. Everything is right there. The merch shop, the sponsor activations, the seating, the fan zone, the matches. It feels like a one-stop tennis ecosystem. The fan zone, night sessions, and when this tournament really comes alive Outside, there’s a fan zone area with a big screen where people can watch matches, plus merch and games and all the little things that make a tournament feel like an event. During the day, most people are inside watching the matches. But at night, that fan zone fills up. Kids are out of school, families roll in, and you can feel the place shift into a different gear. And I love that. Because this is exactly where tennis wins. A small tournament is one of the best places for a kid to see a pro up close for the first time and appreciate the game from a young age. Yesterday, I watched Sebastian Korda stay after his match and sign what felt like every single ball, hat, and water bottle that made its way to him. That kind of access is what makes smaller tournaments special. You’re not getting that same experience at a massive Grand Slam, even if you’re spending Grand Slam money. The best angles, the sponsor store, and casually watching Grand Slam champs After a few hours (and a lot of roaming for “the best angles,” as always), I ended up back inside in the main open area you’ve probably seen behind me in these daily dispatches. Off to one side is the BOSS sponsor store. On the other side is seating for the grandstand and match viewing. And this is the thing I keep coming back to. You can be sitting there casually watching doubles and realize, oh wait, those are Grand Slam champions on court. Today it was Granollers and Zeballos vs Krajicek and Mektic. Grand Slam titles, major experience, elite doubles tennis, right in front of you. Marin Čilić is in this field too. Grand Slam champion. Quarterfinalist here. It’s kind of wild. My Dallas takeaway: 2026 is the year of the small tournament I’ve said this a few times on the pod, but being here has cemented it for me. I really think 2026 should be the year of the small tournament. I think a lot of people feel like they need US Open money to enjoy live tennis. You don’t. Not even close. These smaller events give you high-level tennis, real access, and an atmosphere that feels easy to move through. You can actually get your bearings. You can actually see players. You can actually have the kind of day where you watch a match, wander to another court, stumble into doubles, grab food, run into someone you recognize, and feel like you’re part of the tournament instead of just a ticket holder. A quick note on player life at these stops One detail I wanted to share because it’s easy to forget if you’ve never been around tournaments like this. When a player loses early, they often don’t immediately disappear. For example, Flavio Cobolli lost early but stayed because he’s still playing doubles. Learner Tien lost his first round and was still around the grounds. Same with Mattia Bellucci. Players often get a couple extra hotel days even after they lose. There’s food. There are practice courts. It makes sense to stay, train, reset, and only move on when it’s time for the next stop. So if you show up on day two thinking you “missed” someone, you might still catch them around the site, especially at these smaller tournaments. Closing out Dallas, heading to Delray This was my last day in Dallas and I’ve genuinely loved getting to know this tournament and showing you around. I also got to catch up with the Off Season guys, Eliot and Ethan, and talk a little about their journey from Australia back home to playing in front of a home crowd. They both won their first matches, and then both went out today, which is tough. But it also means they’re onto the next chapter. And for me, next up is Delray. Another small, intimate stop, and another chance to prove my point that you don’t need Grand Slam money to have a world-class tennis experience. See you there. This is a public episode. 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