Netflix’s tennis documentaries “Break Point” contain no surprises

January 10, 2023 at 11:40 a.m

By HOWARD FENDRICH AP Tennis Writer
Less than 10 minutes have passed since the first episode of Netflix’s professional tennis documentary series Break Point, which will be released on Friday. Nick Kyrgios is seen training ahead of last year’s Australian Open and is heard wondering aloud if he will ever appear in the tournament again.
“I don’t know if this is the last time,” Kyrgios says. “Nothing good lasts forever though, right?”
This captures the recent mood of tennis as the retirements of Serena Williams, Roger Federer and Ash Barty arrive in 2022. It also helps open a window into turmoil and pressure, a word used repeatedly throughout the first five episodes of the series. continued factors for WTA and ATP athletes returning to the Grand Slam stage when play begins at Melbourne Park on Monday (Sunday evening EST).
It’s not the first time Kyrgios, who reached his first Grand Slam final at Wimbledon in July, has voiced questions about his future, and indeed, there aren’t many surprises for those who follow the sport closely. However, the first half of the 10-episode first season has the occasional unexpected moment (the rest are due to be released in June), such as when Kyrgios discusses his drinking habit with his manager, or when Maria Sakkari says in episode 3 that she’s “retired for four days” after blowing a match ball and lost in the semifinals of the 2021 French Open.
“Break Point” is in some ways an advertisement for tennis, introducing casual fans or people who haven’t really been fans to the characters on the court, laying out the basic rules and forms and offering limited recaps of the past season’s events.
No attempt is made to fully cover what happened in sports. One example of something only briefly covered: the unvaccinated Novak Djokovic play-or-not-play-in-Australia saga that captivated the world for more than a week. Barty’s historic championship at the Australian Open and spectacular retirement shortly thereafter remain unexamined.
“At the end of the day, the show is about the human condition and what this sport is doing to humanity and how people react to being in this place and at this time. And it’s very relatable,” said executive producer James Gay-Rees, who is also one of the people behind “Formula 1: Drive to Survive.”
“They’re people we can all relate to,” Gay-Rees said in a video interview. “If that’s the case, anyone can look at it and find something.”
It features a mix of fresh and archival material. It features interviews with coaches, agents, family members, significant others, journalists and former players such as Chris Evert, Martina Navratilova, Andy Roddick and Maria Sharapova.
The focus is on the stories and travails of current players, but don’t expect gossip or infighting. There are tears. Honesty is especially present in reality TV’s popular “confession” style, look directly into the camera sessions.
Paula Badosa, a Spaniard who once ranked #2, talks about dealing with depression in Episode 4. Taylor Fritz, the highest-ranked American man, gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look in episode 3 of a player dealing with an injury before the biggest match of his career. Ajla Tomljanovic, the Australian player who beat Williams at the US Open in the 23-time champion’s final, offers insight into the grind.
“If you don’t win the event, you’re a loser every week,” says Tomljanovic, whose ongoing relationship with 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini takes up much of Episode 2. “That’s why I think tennis is really cruel. .”
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