Netflix’s new event documentary series shines its spotlight on Félix Auger-Aliassime. break pointwhich will be released on Friday, paints a flattering portrait of the Quebec tennis player and scrutinizes his association with Toni Nadal enough to create a few crisp moments.
From the same producers as F1: Drive to Survivea series that helped popularize motor racing among a wider, younger and more diverse audience, break point dissects the 2022 tennis season by following a dozen rising stars on the men’s (ATP) and women’s (WTA) circuits. Félix Auger-Aliassime is the only Canadian in the lens of the cameramen.
Most of the fifth episode is devoted to the Quebec champion, while he participates in the major tournament of Roland-Garros. We give the floor to the people who form our entourage: our coach Frédéric Fontang, his mother Marie, his sister Malika, his agent Bernard Duchesneau, and Toni Nadal, the uncle and former coach of the famous Rafael Nadal, who joined the Auger-Aliassime clan in 2021 as an advisor.
At first glance, Toni Nadal gives the impression of being a direct and unfiltered man. During an FAA training, we even hear him say to Fontang: “He is playing much better than last year. Last year was a disaster. »
The cameras follow Félix Auger-Aliassime throughout the duration of the event or rather until he packs up against (alert to the spoiler, although the event dates from eight months) Rafael Nadal at the end of a match hotly contested. The soundscape, the production, the images, the editing… Everything fits together perfectly to create suspense. And although as a tennis fan we knew the outcome of the duel, we still got caught up in the game. Sweaty palms and heart palpitations included.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
Felix Auger-Aliassime in break point
Sensing a bargain, the team of break point took advantage of the duel with Rafael Nadal to fully exploit Toni Nadal’s “controversial” decision to attend the match in the neutral zone, far from the box of the Quebecer. Before the confrontation, we even hear him declare that he wants to see his nephew win. We also understand that during the days preceding the meeting, Uncle Toni did not tell Félix, who nevertheless pays his salary, what he had to do to beat the Spaniard. And after the tussle, we see him all smiles.
This situation obviously caused a lot of talk. And Netflix strongly squeezes the lemon.
In front of the lens, the ex-coach of Serena Williams, Patrick Mouratoglou, questions the professionalism of Toni Nadal by pointing out that he would, personally, “never do that” under contract. We are shown awkward silences behind the scenes. And off-screen, we hear commentators declaring that they would be surprised if the association between FAA and Toni Nadal “survived” such an affront. (Last I heard, they’re still working together.)
Elsewhere, during a meal where each of the members of the Auger-Aliassime clan tries to speak English although they individually express themselves better in French (for the cameras, no doubt), we learn that Félix has no no memory of a life without tennis. In terms of humor, his sister recalls a sentence that their father (and former coach) liked to repeat when they were younger: “You eat tennis, you drink tennis, you sleep tennis, you shit tennis. ” Enjoy your meal !
General public
Series break point may be interested in Matteo Berrettini, María Sákkari, Casper Ruud and other Taylor Fritz, players far from the famous “Big Three” (Roger Federer, Nadal, Novak Djokovic), it is not only for tennis enthusiasts . The intent to appeal to the widest possible audience is obvious from the start, especially when you begin to explain the basic rules of the sport.
The producers have also retained the services of illustrious retirees, known to Mr. and Mrs. Everybody, to comment on the action, including Maria Sharapova, Chris Evert, Andy Roddick and Martina Navratilova.
In reality, aficionados risk being bored at times, especially if they follow tennis news carefully. The first five hours are poor in startling revelations.
The series also begins by painting the portrait of Nick Kyrgios, “bad boy” of the ATP, who is trying to revive his career in Melbourne, near his family, at the Australian Open.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
Nick Kyrgios with his girlfriend
The speech of the misunderstood victim of Kyrgios, a player full of talent who loses his lead every time he steps on a court, the average amateur has heard it thousands of times.
Fortunately, break point sometimes goes off the beaten path, especially with Paula Badosa, who talks about mental health. Tunisian Ons Jabeur recounts the difficulties she encountered to reach the top, as one of the few women in the Arab world in the world rankings. “People thought I was going to be a stay-at-home mom. They laughed when I said that I was going to win important titles. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY NETFLIX
Ons Jabeur with his mother
And without being transcendent, the sequences which show the couple Ajla Tomljanović-Matteo Berrettini torn about the film which they are going to watch in bed in their hotel room looking like a pigsty are entertaining. (The pair have since broken up, but the story doesn’t say whether to blame the feature choice.)
The first five episodes of break point land on Netflix on Friday. Episodes 6 to 10 will be posted in June. French version available.