“Breakpoint”: the View From Behind the Ball

Breakpoint is one of Netflix’s most recent docuseries, and it captures the on-screen and behind-the-scenes of what it means to be a professional tennis player, and what it takes mentally, emotionally, and physically. 

As someone who doesn’t care much for sports, I was utterly surprised when I found myself hooked to the show and unusually attached to the players. Though I wasn’t able to strongly connect with tennis as a sport, I was able to connect with the tennis players who showed that, despite being put on a pedestal, are still humans who feel deeply.  

Throughout the ten-episode series, viewers get a firsthand look at the life of world-renowned tennis players such as Ons Jabeur, Taylor Fritz, and Ajla Tomljanović, and their journey through an action-packed tennis season that leads them through the US Open, Indian Wells, the Australian Open, the French Open, and the ATP and WTA finals. Each episode features two to four tennis players who share a bit of their own story and what the past few months of their lives have looked like. Some, like Iga Świątek, are on top of the world because they’ve won almost every match they’ve played so far in the season. On the other hand, there are some, like Aryna Sablenka, who are fighting to keep their rank and passion for the sport they’ve tirelessly dedicated their lives to.

Each episode is focused on a few certain players and highlights all aspects of their lives. For example, the first episode focuses on Nick Kyrgios, (also known as King Kyrgios), who is an Australian tennis player trying to repair his reputation as tennis’s “bad boy” after having several tantrums on the court during previous seasons. The episode starts by introducing Kyrgios and taking a deep dive into where he’s from, what titles he’s won, his journey to fame, and what his life has looked like since then. His storyline is my personal favorite because of his hilarious sarcasm and unhinged comments, but also because of his character development. Even though Kyrgios’s public persona is a ‘toughie’ and a complete beast on and off the court, as the show progresses, he starts to show vulnerability by revealing different layers of himself. This drew me in as a viewer, and I ended up developing a sense of sympathy for him. While watching, (specifically this episode), I felt special in a way, because no one else before, during, or after the match was getting to see the side of him that I saw in his interviews, except for his friends and family. I applaud Netflix for running Kyrgios’s episode first because it certainly did what it was supposed to do — attract viewers through drama, and get them to crave more. 

Something I appreciate about Breakpoint is its messages: mental health and physical health are equally important, losing is a part of reaching success, having a support system is key, and what viewers see on screen is not always genuine or real. I got to see the real side of what it means to be a tennis player, especially because of the personal insider view of the series. It allowed me to see players before, during, and after the matches, how they coped with winning or losing, and the impact it makes on each player’s mental health. This made the show special because usually, during any sports match, the players compete, one side wins, the other loses, and that’s it. In Breakpoint, we get to see the aftermath of each game, and what is going on in each player’s mind. One of my favorite parts of each episode was after the matches, when each player’s support system never failed to give their player words of encouragement and check up on how they were doing both physically and mentally, no matter the result of the match. Some players would respond by crying or laughing, and some would just sit in silence. It was fascinating to watch how each player deals with their win or loss differently, and if they bounce back with a positive or negative mindset in training. Although I received different views in the show that were inadvertently teaching me about the game of tennis, it was the emotions that were tied to the players and their stories that kept me coming back episode after episode. 

Even as someone who knows nothing about tennis, I found Breakpoint captivating. Watching players I came to love playing against each other was thrilling. In fact, during every match, I noticed myself holding my breath while they were playing. I appreciated that clips shown from each match featured the downfalls and highlights of each player, showing that just because they’re great tennis players doesn’t mean that they’re perfect. As I watched the show, I gained even more respect for all tennis players, not only for being incredibly strong but for also attempting to bear the weight of the pressure and stress that comes with being kept at high standards, especially with the world watching their every move. 

I loved Breakpoint, and I wish there were more episodes. From what I learned about the world of tennis, there are so many tennis players out there — and they all have their own stories. This being said some of the tennis players featured in the show didn’t get as much recognition as others. Additionally, I felt like the end of the series was cut short and too bluntly. In the last episode, the tournaments ended and players either celebrated or mourned, but then the show ended abruptly. It lacked final reactions, future thoughts, and closure. Even though I was slightly disappointed with the series finale, the quality and the message of Breakpoint as a whole made up for it. However, if you’re someone who loves the game of tennis and not so much the emotions involved in the behind-the-scenes, this show probably isn’t for you. The majority of the scenes are focused on the players’ feelings, not their skills.

Overall, Breakpoint is certainly worth the watch. It inspired me to follow in the footsteps of the players, to take more control of my life by thinking with a positive mindset, working hard, and taking everything one step at a time. It’s an incredible representation of the physical and mental strength it takes to be dedicated to something you love, even when it feels like the world is against you. 

By Marin Zocca