Novak Djokovic’s Kobe tribute, Iga Swiatek’s surge: four things ‘Break Point’ Season 2 missed

The second season of Break Point is about to drop on Netflix, tracking a smattering of the game’s biggest stars through an intense 2023.

But before you start binging, here are a few storylines that didn’t make it into the final edit:

1. The WTA Finals debacle

Let’s start at the end, with one of the most chaotic finishes to a tennis season in recent memory. The WTA Finals has become a slapdash affair in the years following the COVID-19 pandemic, when it lost its permanent home in Shenzhen, but the women’s tour’s wild week in Cancun was one for the record books.

The bidding process played out during the US Open and saw Cancun narrowly edge out a controversial bid from bourgeoning sports power Saudi Arabia. A month later, the center court was still under construction by the time the Elite 8 had arrived, putting a tight squeeze on practice time before round-robin action began.

Break Point star Aryna Sabalenka led the charge, complaining at length about the court conditions in an Instagram post posted after her dominant start to the tournament. But strange bounces proved the least of the players’ problems when numerous hurricanes delayed the outdoor event into a second week. With Break Point wrapping its story after the US Open, neither the grand finale nor champion Iga Swiatek’s surge back to No. 1 is mentioned.

2. Novak Djokovic’s Kobe Bryant tribute

Where Swiatek, who featured heavily in Break Point’s first season, is entirely from the sequel, Djokovic looms too large over the men’s game to be edited out entirely. Despite his lack of direct participation, his “it ain’t happening” catchphrase is put front and center as it relates to the young guns attempting to bump him from his perch atop the rankings.

Still, with most of Break Point’s focus on Next Gen hopes like Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune, it can be easy to for viewers to forget how dominant Djokovic was in 2023. Aside from a narrow loss to Alcaraz at Wimbledon, the world No. 1 was pitch perfect at major tournaments, adding another three for a new total of 24—extending his lead over Big 3 rivals Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer.

The emotional high point of the season for Djokovic came in New York, where he dedicated his 24th major to late friend and NBA legend Kobe Bryant. Donning a t-shirt in memory of his mentor, who passed away in a tragic helicopter accident in 2020, Djokovic spoke of Bryant’s impact and influence during a poignant trophy ceremony.

“When I was struggling with injury and trying to make my comeback, work my way back to the top of the game, he was one of the people I relied on the most,” said Djokovic after defeating rival Daniil Medvedev in straight sets.

3. Daniil Medvedev’s return to form

Speaking of Medvedev, where was he in Break Point’s second season? The former world No. 1 makes a mere cameo, appearing in only one episode as a foil to Alexander Zverev.

The dubious editorial decision frames Medvedev as an unequivocal villain, one who uses mind games to get in the heads of players like Zverev. Where no one, least of all Medvedev, would argue his pattern of on-court histrionics, none but Zverev have ever accused the 2021 US Open champion of straight up mental warfare.

Medvedev addressed the fallout from his Monte Carlo match with the embattled Zverev in press the following day—context which was unfortunately excluded from the docuseries.

“Sascha is living in his own world,” Medvedev said. “I already had like five players in the locker room coming to me and saying, ‘Come on, Daniil, why are you so unfair?’...When he says someone is not fair play, you're like, ‘Okay, great. Look at yourself in the mirror.’”

Between the two, Medvedev was much more the story of the season, rocketing back up to the top tier of men’s tennis after a slow start with Masters victories in Miami and Rome before finishing the year with a fifth major final in Flushing Meadows. Setting the tennis aside, Medvedev also enjoyed a redemptive arc with fans, endearing them with his sharp wit and incisive press conference analyses. Of all the athletes, Medvedev is most made for reality TV, making him tragically underutilized in Break Point.

4. Ajla Tomljanovic’s comeback

One of the biggest victims of the so-called Netflix curse was deprived her happy ending on Break Point.

Tomljanovic was the breakout star of the first season as fans followed her from the bushes outside her Melbourne hotel room to Arthur Ashe Stadium, where she sent 23-time Grand Slam champion into retirement at the US Open.

But a knee injury kept the Aussie off tour for much of 2023, starting at her home Slam, where she was hoping to enjoy the fruits of an unforgettable 2022.

“My main thing is just not being able to do what I love, which is playing tennis,” she said last summer. “All this hype and everything that would have come with Break Point, things in Australia, those would have been amazing extras.”

She was finally able to return to action almost a year later at the site of her greatest triumph. Playing in the shadow of Ashe Stadium, Tomljanovic treated Court 4 to an equally dramatic first round over Panna Udvardy. The packed crowd made it clear that she was still a fan favorite.

“That roar when I came out compared to hers, I was like, ‘Oh my god!’ It felt super nice,” she said, adding with a laugh, “I guess everyone from last year felt bad, so they’re like, ‘We’re going to cheer her on this year. She hasn’t played in 10 months!’”

She ended the season with a first WTA 125K title, setting her in good stead for a star turn on Break Point’s third season (should one come to pass).