Despite featuring stars such as Coco Gauff, Netflix's “Break Point” drew poor ratingsGetty Images
Netflix stopped production of the “Break Point” tennis docu-series after only two seasons because of “poor ratings and concerns over access to the sport’s leading players,” according to Stuart Fraser of the London TIMES. The series was announced by Netflix in Jan. 2022 as tennis “attempted to capitalise on the interest that had been generated” by F1’s “Drive to Survive” series, but the results were “underwhelming” despite featuring stars such as Nick Kyrgios and Coco Gauff. The series “failed to capture some of the most interesting storylines on the tour over the past two years,” with one of the “most glaring absences” being Novak Djokovic’s Australian visa controversy in 2022. Producers “became increasingly frustrated by the hurdles they had to overcome for access in tennis” compared to F1 and the process was “complicated by the repeated need to gain the approval of agents before filming or speaking to players.” Netflix cameras are “unlikely to reappear again unless there is a sudden upturn in viewing figures for the second series,” which was released in January. Netflix has "not helped itself by glossing over key stories and information.” Several viewers "criticised the fact that an episode featuring Alexander Zverev featured no mention at all of the domestic violence allegations he is facing in Germany." The series has "often come across as more of a PR exercise than an authentic deep dive into the sport’s inner workings,” but it is “still a significant blow for tennis that the opportunity to captivate a new audience through an annual series has been missed” (London TIMES, 3/8).
