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Post Info TOPIC: Netflix BreakPoint


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Netflix BreakPoint


Just wondering if anyone watched this and what they thought? Ive not yet but BBC sports programme last night gave it very mixed reviews from Laura, pat cash and Russell fuller. In essence it was too vanilla and stayed away from interesting topics - Fuller said too much tennis and not enough about life or people or thoughts around tennis. 

apparently the various authorities strictly controlled editorial direction and probably watered down any controversy 



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Watched or fast forwarded through, the first 4 episodes. 

For a tennis fan, who knows the basics, knows the names of the tournaments, which ones are important and so on, you really need your hand on the remote to fast forward through the sections which explain the sport. There are also talking heads (Sharapova, Roddick, Evert, Annacone, Courtney Nguyen + others) who might say one interesting thing but you won't miss much if you skip; Roddick the best of them.

The first episode is dominated by Nick Kyrgios during the Aus Open; showing him, girlfriend, support team, family, development from being a kid, little bit of him beating Liam Broady, then losing soon after, then they focused on his doubles, eventually winning the title. I watched about 10 mins, found him very dull and fast forwarded to the end. If you are a Kyrgios fan then it might hold your attention.

Episode 2 focuses on Matteo Berrettini and Ajla Tomljanovic, who were a couple at that time (Aus Open). Personally, I find Tomljanovic compelling because of the gap between her expectations of her career and how it has actually gone. She also seems to either have no filter, or believes there's value in showing all the negative stuff that most sports men and women would want to happen behind closed doors. If you suspect that either you or someone you know is the world's most untidy person, I can assure you that Berrettini and Tomljanovic (at least as a couple) have (had) that title secured. There's also sports couple dynamics going on - if everything has to be centred around the player, how does that work if they are in a relationship with another tennis player ? Think I fast forwarded through the clips of matches but watched the rest.

Episode 3 follows Taylor Fritz and Maria Sakkari at Indian Wells. Do they believe they belong among the elite ? Can they beat star players to win big titles ? Usual pattern of girlfriend, coach, support team, family talking about tennis life. Sakkari, like Tomljanovic, is willing to talk openly about her struggles, losing in semi-finals, though alarmingly, still aspires to be World number 1. Taylor Fritz seems a perfectly pleasant young man, as did Matteo Berrettini in previous episode, but nothing that surprising about their comments. I like Sakkari so am biased. Her coach Tom Hill comes across quite well. Again, I skipped most of the tennis action, though watched Sakkari having a meltdown in the final.

Episode 4 follows Paula Badosa and Ons Jabeur at Madrid. Badosa discussing her battles with depression is the stand out moment so far. A lot of talk of pressure of being number 2 in the world and expectations of doing well. Winning Roland Garros as a junior seems to have worked against her. Ons Jabeur doing it her own way, Tunisian support team including her husband, imaginative tennis, takes the title watched by various relatives. Could have done without the talking heads (Patrick Mouratoglou, Martina Navratilova, Courtney Nguyen and Maria Sharapova). I barely skipped any. 

As TV it's pretty dull. If you are a fan of one of the players that's featured in an episode, you'll already know which matches they won and lost but will probably get more value from the interactions with their coach/family/partner etc than a neutral would. 

There is also a repetitive aspect of that episode's player saying "winning is a drug, losing is horrible, you have to get used to losing as only one winner per tournament, I'm a fighter" and so on. Their childhoods, their current daily routines, while different to yours or mine, are similar to each other. Tennis players seem to sign a lot of extra large balls and get a huge number of hugs if they win. 

Apparently, episode 5 features Felix Auger Aliassime and Casper Ruud during Roland Garros. The June set of episodes follow Swiatek, Sabalenka, Stephens, Tiafoe, Tsitsipas at tournaments later in 2022 - I've had enough so won't be watching.



-- Edited by kundalini on Sunday 15th of January 2023 04:27:33 PM

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Many thanks to kundalini for the detailed assessment of the series.  I shan't be watching it, as I don't subscribe to Netflix, though a two-page spread in Friday's London Evening Standard, written by its sports correspondent, Matt Majendie, caught my eye & I read it on the Tube on my way to meet a friend for a pre-concert meal.  I looked for it on-line with a view to posting a link on here, but could find no sign of it, though there are plenty of reviews in other papers.  However, this interview conducted with Nick Kyrgios in Dubai by Laura Pullman for The Sunday Times Magazine was spawned by the appearance of Break Point, the first episode of which apparently focuses on him.  There didn't seem any point in starting a new thread to publicise it.  Interesting description of Holger Rune & Andy comes out of it well.  Plenty of photographs, too, including one of Kyrgios as quite a chubby child!  wink



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An amusing paragraph from Stu Fraser's article in today's Times:

Tennis figures at Melbourne Park are now talking of the curse of Netflix. Kyrgios is one of three players featured in the new Break Point documentary series to have posted a pre-tournament withdrawal, joining Paula Badosa and Ajla Tomljanovic. Carlos Alcaraz, Naomi Osaka and Venus Williams also pulled out prior to the draw.

The full article is here.  Andy apparently has no plans to watch Break Point.



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I actually thought it was pretty good. Granted I obviously have an interest in tennis but gives some insight. I can see what they are tying to do.

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Jimmy09 wrote:

I actually thought it was pretty good. Granted I obviously have an interest in tennis but gives some insight. I can see what they are tying to do.


Stu Fraser didn't seem too impressed last Monday.  wink



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I've watched almost all of the episodes and epi 2 with Berrettini and 4 with Badosa/Jabeur have been the strongest.

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I have dipped in and out of all episodes. We immediately googled the age of Nick Ks girlfriend; at 21 she seems very young. Nick definitely has a type, shes the image of his previous girlfriend. Too many PDAs in that episode! Taylor F also seems to have a type as his ex wife and girlfriend are identical. Couldnt believe how messy Berrettini and Ajlas hotel room was!

I really liked Paula, Ons and Maria - I dont really follow womens tennis, so found it very interesting and will definitely watch a few of their matches. Maria is so fit and her game style is different.

Not sure what to make of Uncle Tony  and his coach/ player relationship with Felix AA. U Tony told the press he wanted Rafa to win vs Felix - guess blood is thicker than water.

Part 2 of Break Point Season 1 will be released in June. The last five episodes of the first season of Break Point will follow tennis stars like Nick Kyrgios, Francis Tiafoe, and Ajla Tomljanovic to last years Wimbledon and U.S. Open tournaments. Spoilers, but Kyrgios infamously had an altercation with a drunken fan at Wimbledon, while Tiafoe and Tomljanovic went on to make headlines at the U.S. Open.




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A second season of the series featuring the current 2023 campaign has already been confirmed after the success of the first five episodes, but the release of the second tranche will coincide with the tour turning its attention to the grass of Wimbledon.

The episodes will hit screens 10 days before the third grand slam of the year with two episodes based around the 2022 championships, featuring Nick Kyrgios, Ajla Tomljanovic and Ons Jabeur.

www.atptour.com/en/news/netflix-break-point-2023-part-2-date-announcement

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This second series has a whole episode focused on Zverev.

No mention of the abuse accusations by more than one ex girlfriend.

In addition, worth noting Zverev has just been elected to the ATP Player Council by his fellow players.

x.com/benrothenberg/status/1744455974168268888

Stunning

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They've even made Medvedev the villain of the Zverev episode

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Thought the last series was boring so probably wont bother with this one.

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seagull wrote:

Thought the last series was boring so probably wont bother with this one.


 ditto, the Zverev thing caught my eye.

 

Related - Kyrgios was a big focus last season; I see he is working with Boris Becker on Eurosport for the Aussie Open - which feels very ironic!



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