Break Point

Disclaimer: 17 minutes into the first episode here.

As a huge tennis fan, I question the choice of player in the first episode: Kyrgios. At the moment he is the most controversial - you might say one you love to hate - and if, like in Formula 1, you want to attract new fans to the sport, you will turn them off instead. What's worse, viewers might think all tennis players are like Kyrgios. They are not. Most behave like human beings who are able to accept losing and are respectful of opponents, officials and the rules. They generally exhibit basic human decency. Kyrgios is the exception.

I may update this review after watching more episodes.

Similar to another review, for me it felt like season 2 seemed to have more coverage of the male players model girlfriends than coverage of the female tennis players.

I understand that we're seeing an insight into the players lives but the gratuitous coverage of the female partners, who didn't seem to bring much to the narrative and only seem to have been included if they fitted the correct Instagram profile, became quite tedious to me. So much so, that I was completely losing interest towards the end of the season.

I came here for the tennis, not the fame and celebrity status surrounding it.

You can know nothing about tennis and still enjoy this show. The rules are explained in a way everyone will understand. Simply watching highlights of a tennis match will not give you the same insight as this show does. Viewers will gain a new appreciation of the mental and physical tests tennis players go through.

Break Point is not so much about the game of tennis, it's about the people. Why are these people sacrificing their mental health for greatness? What motivates these players to take the extra step? Break Point is an intimate look into the life of an athlete of the highest caliber in one of the most mentally demanding sports in the world.

The absence of some of the greatest players is felt but does not change the fact that Break Point is a look at the behind-the-scenes of tennis, and it will undoubtedly bring more fans to the sport.

Very enjoyable portraits of the new(er) generation who will have very little time winning anything after the big 3 is gone and before Alcaraz and co. Kick in the door. Shows very well how mentally tough tennis is beyond the obvious physical aspects. I cannot understand people (also in the reviews) who dare to question some players who sometimes don't handle the immense pressure 100% correct...but haters gonna hate. One thing that baffled me in the series though is that they dedicated a mere minute to one of the (if not the) biggest comebacks in tennis history in episode 2. Otherwise good insights, suspenseful scenes, great atmosphere.

As a tennis fan I think it's important to show the inside of the sport which I think lacks access to the fans at times. Sport of more than about hitting a ball, it's about the history, the drama, the psychology and getting to know the players. A few of the players gave good access, I wish more would have done.

I was disappointed that the Novak drama in Australia was almost completely glossed over as that was the biggest tennis story of the year. A lot of the focus is on some of the up and coming players trying to make their big breakthroughs and this series was lucky enough to have access to some players having some big moments. For example, Nick Kyrgios gave access in what turned out to be a big breakthrough year for him in both singles and doubles. The series is definitely richer for that story despite a couple of reviewers crying about it and giving the whole series a low rating because of it. I think sport is a lot more boring without its characters.

This documentary gives a good balance between the male and female side of tennis, I do wish some of the bigger names were involved with this though, such as Roger, Rafa and Novak, along with some more of the legends of the sport. The contrast between the established at the top of the sport with the up and coming players with more of the input of the legends could have made with more compelling. Still, I enjoyed this so far and am looking forward to the next instalment in the Summer.