How players from Netflix's tennis documentary 'Break Point' fared at Australian Open 2023, ft. Nick Kyrgios, Paula Badosa, Matteo Berrettini

Netflix released the first five episodes of its ten-episode tennis docuseries “Break Point” on January 13, a couple of days ahead of the 2023 Australian Open. The series prominently featured Nick Kyrgios, Thanasi Kokkinakis, Taylor Fritz, Maria Sakkari, Paula Badosa, Ons Jabeur, Casper Ruud and Felix Auger Aliassime.

While Break Point highlighted the success of the emerging tennis players and their journey to make it to the top in the sport, fortune didn't smile upon the athletes at the on-going Australian Open. The early losses of the featured players led fans to come up with the term “The Netflix Curse.”

On that note, let’s take a look at how the Break Point players fared in the tournament:

Nick Kyrgios

Nick Kyrgios is yet to play an official match since the start of the 2023 season. Although the Aussie participated in a practice match against Novak Djokovic ahead of the Australian Open, he withdrew from the tournament just a day later, citing a knee injury.

Thanasi Kokkinakis

Thanasi Kokkinakis left it all out there in the second round against Andy Murray. The match, which turned out to be the second-longest in Australian Open history, lasted five hours and 45 minutes and ended in favor of Murray 4-6, 6(4)-7, 7-6(5), 6-3, 7-5.

Matteo Berrettini

Matteo Berrettini was another of Andy Murray’s victims at the Australian Open. The 2022 semifinalist was drawn against Murray in the first round and suffered a heartbreaking 6-3, 6-3, 4-6, 6(7)-7, 7-6(6) loss, after failing to covert a match point.

Ajla Tomljanovic

Ajla Tomljanovic pulled out of the tournament with a knee injury, later revealing that she had undergone surgery. The Aussie announced that she was likely to be out of action for a few months.

Taylor Fritz

Taylor Fritz’s Australian Open run was cut short by wild card entrant Alexei Popyrin in the second round. With the crowd by his side, home hope Popyrin scored a hard-fought 6(4)-7, 7-6(2), 6-4, 6(8)-7, 6-2 upset over the American No. 1.

Maria Sakkari

World No. 6 Maria Sakkari faced a shock loss against China’s Lin Zhu in a three-setter, going down 7-6(3), 1-6, 6-4. The Greek, whose best result in Australia was making the fourth round (2020, 2022), failed to defend her points from last year as she crashed out in the third round.

Paula Badosa

Paula Badosa was another athlete from the Netflix docuseries who pulled out of the 2023 Australian Open. She did so due to a thigh injury she sustained a week earlier, in the quarterfinals of the Adelaide International 2.

The 2021 Indian Wells Open champion stated that she would be sidelined for a few weeks while recuperating from the injury.

Ons Jabeur

2022 Wimbledon and US Open runner-up Ons Jabeur waved goodbye in the second round of the Australian Open this year. The World No. 2, who was one of the favorites to win the tournament, lost against 2020 Olympic silver medalist Marketa Vondrousova 6-1, 5-7, 6-1.

Jabeur later shared that she faced breathing issues during the match.

Casper Ruud

Second seed Casper Ruud was knocked out of the Australian Open in the second round. The 2022 French Open and US Open runner-up was stunned by America’s Jenson Brooksby 6-3, 7-5, 6(4)-7, 6-2.

Felix Auger-Aliassime

The last remaining athlete from the Netflix tennis docuseries becomes the victim in the fourth round

Felix Auger-Aliassime, who was the last player standing from those featured in 'Break Point,' failed to defend his quarterfinal appearance from last year. The young Canadian bowed out in the fourth round against upcoming star Jiri Lehecka in a tightly contested four-setter 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(2), 7-6(3).

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