Break Point

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.

I love tennis, so I feel like this definitely could've been done better. I'm not entirely sure I liked the player focused episodes-I enjoy seeing how they prepare and overcome/deal with criticism and frustration, but if it had just been tour focused the ground covered could have been better. I know Drive to Survive has specific talking points and is sometimes driver focused, but it really makes you feel like F1 is this big great thing you want to be a part of-this is lacking on the tennis side. It's sort of like "A week in the lives of" instead of the ATP and WTA tour. The best episode was the one where the new kids are trying to figure out how to beat Rafa-and it only kept my interest high because, well, Rafa. Also, why is Maria Sharapova in this? Roddick does commentary, so I see how his points of view would be insightful-he knows a bit more about this next-gen class. Anyway, I'm obviously going to keep watching, but as I said-I love tennis, and even I was bored during some points of the show.

The jump cuts are annoying and the cheerleading sycophantic background commentary can be cringeworthy at times. The series needs a toned-down perspective rather than the fanfare it injects into every situation. Instead, we get contrived setups of personal moments (especially with ditzy girlfriends) and a whole episode on Nick Kyrgios throwing tantrums because he's a "misunderstood" and "troubled" boy...Oh boohoo! Give us a break!

A more subtle perspective with unguarded moments in training, traveling and the struggle to stay on form...more honest fly-on-the-wall stuff. What makes the great players great? And why are so many of the younger players not at the same level as Federer, Nadal and Serena were at their age? We need a more honest exposé on behind-the-scenes tennis rather than the over-dramatic off-the-shelf formula it presents.

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.

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.