Netflix dropped the first part of their highly anticipated tennis docuseries Break Point on Friday and it has helped us gain further insight into the lives and personalities of our favourite stars on and off the court.
While anyone who follows the sport headed into the series knowing how the 2022 season unfolded in terms of majors and titles, the series helps to fill in the blanks and gives the viewer more of an understanding into the life of a professional tennis player.
We were able to pick up a lot from the first five episodes (the second half will drop in June) which documented the Australian Open through to the French Open.
Nick Kyrgios - A softer side to tennis’ bad boy
Australian tennis star Kyrgios is very much the sport’s Marmite figure; you either love him or hate him. He is often in the headlines for the wrong reasons mainly because of his antics on court when things are not going his way. He has thrown a fair few tantrums in his career which has included smashing racquets, throwing courtside chairs, and shouting at umpires and the crowd.
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He admits in one of the show’s interviews that he knows that at times he crosses the line with his behaviour on court but he added that it all stems from his passion. While there is still no justification for his antics, you cannot deny it adds to the entertainment he provides along with his tennis.
Kyrgios’ mother Norlaila says that the anger started after he defeated Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon as a 19-year-old in 2014. This thrust him into the spotlight and invited a lot of pressure which would get to anyone.
It was good to see a happier side to Kyrgios, mainly with his long-time friend and doubles partner Thanasi Kokkinakis, with whom he won the men’s doubles at last year’s Australian Open to claim both their first Grand Slam title. Kyrgios was seen enjoying a game of shuffleboard with his partner and he definitely looked more relaxed in the build-up to matches with his friend taking to the court alongside him.
Tennis stars are just like us in their spare time
The second episode of the series focuses a lot on one of tennis’ biggest couples in Matteo Berrettini and Ajla Tomljanovic. The pair invite the Netflix cameras into their hotel room while they are having their down time. You may think they want to intensively study their opponents but they literally do what most couples do; think of a film or tv show to watch.
To make it even more relatable, Tomljanovic wanted to watch The Holiday, while Berrettini specified he wanted to watch more of a comedy. Tomljanovic responded by saying it’s a romantic comedy and her partner quipped back to say that there’s more emphasis on the romantic element. Most couples around the world can attest to having some sort of heated debate when trying to find something to watch and it was quite refreshing to see.
Paula Badosa tells it how it is regarding to winning and losing
Spain’s Paula Badosa was closely followed for Break Point’s third episode as tennis returned to the Madrid Open, her home tournament where she was the reigning champion.
“This sport is a drug,” she said. “It’s super addictive. The wins and the feeling you get, the adrenaline it gives you -- you’re chasing that all the time.”
Upon her return in Madrid, Badosa was a set and four games down to Simona Halep and she specifies how quickly your attitude and mentality can change in the sport.
“I just want to leave the court. I have so many negative voices in my head: `You’re a bad player, you’re not able to do this.’ It’s very tough to turn it off.”
Later in the episode she opens up about her mental health struggles. Similarly to Kyrgios’ rise, Badosa claimed the junior title at Roland Garros in 2017 and instantly she was propelled into stardom and suddenly experienced a lot of pressure to be the next big thing on the women’s circuit.
With fellow professional Naomi Osaka being up front about her own struggles in recent years, both players’ admissions to their own battles will hopefully lead to a lot more honesty from their peers but also people at home looking up to them as their idols.
Badosa feels that talking about it is a lot more beneficial than keeping it to yourself, saying: “A lot of people don’t talk about it because they think they’re going to be weaker. But I think it’s totally the opposite.”
Toni Nadal shouldn’t coach if he chooses nephew over student
The final episode of part one, titled ‘King of Clay’, includes some degree of focus on record French Open winner Rafa Nadal but it primarily focuses on two of his opponents, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Casper Ruud.
In the segments following Auger-Aliassime it sees the Canadian looking to improve his game by adding a coach unfamiliar to him who can tell him the things he doesn’t want to hear. He appoints Nadal’s uncle and former coach Toni and at first it looks to be a really beneficial relationship.
Then Auger-Aliassime is drawn against Nadal in the fourth round. His uncle then gives a controversial interview saying that he wants his nephew to win which leads to a lot of backlash online.
Auger-Aliassime and his team aren’t too begrudged by it but when the match rolls around, Toni speaks with Rafa in the waiting area and his nephew asks whether he should be there. Toni didn’t sit in either coaching boxes and left the match early as Nadal won after a five-set thriller. His opponent became only the third player at Roland Garros to take him all the way.
While Toni still remains part of Auger-Aliassime’s team, question marks remain over the help he gave to his player in the build-up to the Nadal match. Auger-Aliassime may have taken his nephew all the way in the French Open, but there will always be that shadow of doubt over Toni’s commitment to his player when he is drawn against Nadal. The controversy will continually resurface each time the Canadian draws the Spaniard while Toni is a member of his coaching team.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject To Change
