Though the legendary Rafael Nadal won the 2022 Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year hinted at what’s to come for tennis: Out with the old, and in with the new. The new tennis docuseries Break Point focuses on the next generation of greats. Who will lay claim to being the next Roger Federer, Serena Williams or Novak Djokovic?
With commentary from Maria Sharapova, Andy Roddick and John McEnroe, Break Point follows the lives of the up-and-coming generation, sharing the behind-the-scenes processes of players like 22-year-old Félix Auger-Aliassime and captivating star Ons Jabeur. “The generation behind is not going to wait for us,” 26-year-old Matteo Berrettini says in the series. The time is now.
Age: 28
Representing: Australia
World ranking: No. 25
Kyrgios is famous for being one of only two players to beat Nadal, Federer and Djokovic. Even more incredible was his timing: Each of his historic wins (he faced Nadal in 2014, Federer in 2015, and Djokovic in 2017) were won the very first time Kyrgios played each legend. He’s been called the most talented player of his generation by tennis legends John McEnroe and Chris Evert. In the docuseries, former No. 1-ranked player Roddick said he wished he “had his talent.” Yet the narrative that Kyrgios has carried with him for the majority of his career is that Kyrgios, the bad boy of tennis, hasn’t yet lived up to his potential.
Unlike other pro players, Kyrgios does not play year-round. “It’s like a hobby,” says Roddick. And when Kyrgios is on the court, he admits he has a short fuse. “Sometimes I do cross a line,” he confesses in Break Point. “That’s just my passion. That’s just my emotion.” Kyrgios is a huge NBA fan, and when he’s at his best, he’s as much an entertainer as Stephen Curry. He pulls out trick shots, hypes up the crowd and delivers his incredible, iconic serve, which he calls his biggest weapon.
Grand Slams won: 1 (doubles)
Most likely to: Wear NBA gear
Episodes featured: Episodes 1, 6, 7
You can follow Kyrgios on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 22
Representing: Poland
World Ranking: No. 1
The 22-year-old’s game is already so well-rounded that narrowing down what exactly makes her special is difficult. For one, her mental discipline is unmatched. (Part of Świątek’s crew is a full-time sports psychologist who accompanies her on tour.) She’s speedy, but concise. Her trainer says she moves like a cat and trains like a bull; Maria Sharapova called her a machine.
At only 21, Świątek went on the longest win streak of the century — 37 incredible matches won — that included three WTA 1000 tournaments and the second of her four Grand Slam titles. She’s consistent in her dominance. Players are lucky to walk away with a single game, let alone an entire set. There’s even a Twitter account dedicated to tracking Świątek’s shutouts and near-shutouts. (When a player ends a set with a 6-0 score, the tennis world calls this a “bagel;” a 6-1 set is called a “breadstick.” Świątek is known for “opening bakeries” around the world.)
In the rare moments when Świątek isn’t on the court, she loves rocking out to Guns N’ Roses and AC/DC. She adores her cat, Grappa, and loves reading Agatha Christie novels. And, despite a crowded trophy rack at home, she still gets starstruck — like when Friends star Matthew Perry came on the screen at the US Open.
Grand Slams won: 4
Most likely to: Be reading Wuthering Heights
Episode featured: Episode 9
You can follow Świątek on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 28
Representing: Tunisia
World ranking: No. 6
Ons turned hypercompetitive at age 3. Her mom, Samira, brought Jabeur to her tennis club. “I saw her playing and then I grabbed the rackets,” she said on Instagram Live. “I wanted my mom to put me as a member then.” Tennis wasn’t a ubiquitous sport in Tunisia, so Jabeur had to get creative as a child to find ways to practice. Her club didn’t have tennis courts, so she went to nearby hotels to get her swings in.
The “firsts” that Jabeur has achieved in her career are almost too many to list. Here’s a brief summary: Jabeur is the first Arab player/the first female player from North Africa to be ranked in the world top 10, the first Arab player to win a WTA title and the first Arab woman/the first African woman to make the US Open final. “I have often seen or read things about where I come from,” said Jabeur. “I needed to earn the respect of others. It was even more difficult for me than for others… I just want to set an example for many generations in the Maghreb, in my country and in Africa and show that it is not impossible, that we can do it.”
Jabeur’s style of play includes terminology that just sounds fun to watch, even if you don’t know much about tennis. She’s the best kind of show-off on the court, using her slice, her drop shot and her backhand drop shot when they’re least expected.
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Be found at a barbecue joint
Episodes featured: Episodes 4, 7
You can follow Jabeur on Instagram and Twitter.
Age: 25
Representing: United States
World Ranking: No. 10
Born in Maryland as a first-generation American to parents from Sierra Leone, Tiafoe’s path to tennis stardom is unique. Like many pros, he was introduced to the sport early on. But his vantage point was different: Tiafoe’s dad, Constant, worked as a custodian at a tennis center when Tiafoe and his twin brother Franklin were kids. It was there that Tiafoe observed lessons from the sidelines, practicing moves by himself on the back wall. By the time he was 8 years old, an instructor working at the facility noticed his work ethic and took him under his wing.
Tiafoe still plays like he’s determined to be noticed, despite being ranked 10th in the world. He has an aggressive, domineering serve, memorable forehand and a knack for returning even the most difficult of serves (something both John Isner and Rafael Nadal quickly learned when playing with him).
Before matches, Tiafoe listens to Lil Baby — though he once joked that Keith Sweat was part of his routine — and wants to win the US Open above all other tournaments. His girlfriend, tennis player Ayan Broomfield, is his role model. And while it’s on his bucket list to meet Viola Davis, there’s been no shortage of celebrities who are fans of Tiafoe.
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Make an outfit change
Episode featured: Episode 9
You can follow Tiafoe on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 25
Representing: Neutral player (formerly Belarus)
World Ranking: No. 2
Sabalenka has her family to thank for her interest in tennis: “One day, my dad was just driving me somewhere in the car,” said Sabalenka in 2017, “and on the way he saw tennis courts. So he took me to the courts. I really liked it and enjoyed it and that’s how it was. That’s how it started.” Sabalenka was a pleasant surprise to the tennis world after not garnering much attention on the junior circuits. Nicknamed “The Tiger” and “Warrior Princess,” her game relies on sheer power and the ability to overwhelm opponents early on.
Though highly successful, the Belarus native is in a precarious situation on the tour. Belarusian and Russian players were banned from competing at Wimbledon in 2022 — and from all grass tournaments in the UK — in response to the invasion of Ukraine. In 2023, these athletes have been permitted to compete as “neutrals”, rather than as representatives of their countries.
Grand Slams won: 1 (singles), 2 (doubles)
Most likely to: Be posting on TikTok
Episode featured: Episode 10
You can follow Sabalenka on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 27
Representing: Italy
World ranking: No. 21
Once ranked as high as No. 6 in singles, Berrettini is the first ’90s baby to reach the quarterfinals at all four Grand Slams. No other Italian male player has achieved the feat. In 2019, he also became the first Italian man to play in the Wimbledon final after winning 11 straight matches to get there.
Though tennis is a year-round profession, Berrettini has also found part-time work modeling for Hugo Boss. He’s a major proponent for the “crush” to “tennis fan” pipeline, telling the NY Post, “Hopefully, they start liking my look, I guess, and then they eventually like the tennis as well.” The Italian native loves soccer, though he’s not a fan of the local clubs in Rome (Roma or Lazio), instead pledging his allegiance to Fiorentina.
Like the rest of the tennis world, he idolized Federer growing up. “I remember crying after he lost the finals in 2009 in Australia because he was crying.” Like Federer, Berrettini has found much success on grass courts. Watch for his forehand, which he calls “dangerous,” but don’t discount his lightning fast serve, which once reached 146 mph in 2021.
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Be on a billboard in Times Square
Episode featured: Episode 2
You can follow Berrettini on Instagram.
Age: 30
Representing: Australia
World ranking: No. 59
Tomljanović was a tennis globe-trotter long before she turned pro. Born in Croatia, she relocated to Boca Raton at 13 and then to Australia in 2014, because she felt there were better training opportunities there. Since then, she’s represented Australia on the WTA tour, but her roots are ever-present: “From Croatia, I have what I was born with,” she told German publication Tennis Magazin. “My parents are Croatian. We have joie de vivre, fighting spirit in us and love to fool around.”
When Tomljanović was just 12, she signed with International Management Group, but her rise has been slower than anticipated. “My first thoughts on her tennis were that I was a bit surprised she hadn’t done better,” her former coach David Taylor told The New York Times. “To me, her big weapons were there, and the weaknesses weren’t so weak.” Now many feel Tomljanović has arrived: She reached her first career Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2021 at Wimbledon. “Certainly when I played Ajla, I knew I had to be at my absolute very best or she’d completely roll me,” three-time Grand Slam champion Ashleigh Barty told the Australian Associated Press. “And she’s got that respect from everyone.”
Now many feel Tomljanović has arrived: She reached her first career Grand Slam quarterfinals in 2021 at Wimbledon. In 2022, she returned to the quarterfinals in London and reached the same stage in the U.S. Open.
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Be watching The Holiday
Episodes featured: Episodes 2, 6, 7, 8
You can follow Tomljanović on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 25
Representing: United States
World ranking: No. 8
Fritz has been on a tennis court since he was 2 years old (though his famous backhand was pretty meh at that age). His dad, Guy, told GQ that by the time Fritz began hitting balls, “He couldn’t even pronounce ‘ball machine’ yet. So he’d tell me, ‘Daddy, I hit the ’chine, I hit the ’chine.’ ” Guy, by the way, is no regular guy: He was crowned tennis’ 2016 US Olympic Development Coach of the Year and played professionally himself. Fritz’s mom, Kathy, played in three Grand Slam quarterfinals and was ranked 10th in the world at one point. (If you’re going to make a case for nepo babies, it’s Fritz.)
Fritz has steadily risen in the rankings over the past couple of years. He’s known for his powerful two-handed backhand and for being the player whom millions of American fans hope will be their next male tennis icon.
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Be the next (male) USA tennis hero
Episodes featured: Episodes 3, 8, 10
You can follow Fritz on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 27
Representing: Greece
World ranking: No. 8
Sakkari belongs to the new wave of strength-training players in tennis and has worked on channeling that physicality into her game. “I have a lot of power and I’ve been using it the right way,” Sakkari told the Women’s Tennis Association website in 2021. “But up until last year, I couldn’t really control my power. I know it sounds funny, but it’s true.” Finding restraint and taking off “a little bit of pace” has given Sakkari a new command over her game.
Strong women — physically and mentally — are part of Sakkari’s makeup. Growing up, Serena Williams was a role model for Sakkari, she told Tennis365. Her mom, Angeliki Kanellopoulou, also played professionally and reached a career-high world ranking of No. 43. Sakkari’s carried the torch since, becoming the Open era’s highest-ranked Greek woman player. Before her, no female player from Greece had reached the top 10. “I was born a fighter,” Sakkari told Marie Claire Greece in 2022. “It is natural for me to fight with all my strength, and this element of my character definitely matches my capacity as a professional tennis player. And I believe that it is my militancy that adds something more whenever I fight.”
Sakkari is also known for her killer bun, which you can find on top of her head every match.
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Be near the weight rack
Episode featured: Episode 3
You can follow Sakkari on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 25
Representing: Spain
World ranking: No. 34
Badosa was born in New York City, grew up in Spain and is currently living in Dubai. The best way to describe her game is multifaceted and multitalented. (Multilingual, too. She speaks Spanish, Catalan, English and some French.) Her greatest asset might be her serve, which is one of the fastest in the WTA with a career high of 122 mph, but she’s also lauded for her two-handed backhand and her forehand.
Fellow Spaniard Nadal had high praise for Badosa’s skill set in the United Cup’s YouTube series, Partnership, which featured them both. “Paula, you have a great forehand, come on,” said Nadal. (Badosa’s reply? “Almost like Rafa!”) Her biggest inspiration is Sharapova, which could explain why her heavy forehand is such an important element to her game.
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Be dancing — in fact, she tells Tudum that she has “pretty good secret moves.”
Episode featured: Episode 4
You can follow Badosa on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 24
Representing: Norway
World ranking: No. 4
At just 24 years old, Ruud is already considered the best male tennis player ever to come from Norway. A close-ish second is Ruud’s dad and coach, Christian, who reached No. 39 in the world rankings during his professional career in the ’90s. Ruud is also the first Norwegian male player to win an ATP singles title, the first to ascend into the world ranking’s top 20 and the first to make a major finals.
He joined the Rafa Nadal Academy in 2018 and even practiced against Nadal when he was younger. “Rafael Nadal was my idol growing up,” Ruud tells Tudum. “How he conducts himself on and off the court, he’s my biggest inspiration to date.” With Nadal as a mentor, it’s no surprise that Ruud made his name as a clay court specialist. In fact, the French Open — the only Grand Slam played on clay — is the tournament that Casper has “always dreamed of winning.”
In fact, the French Open — the only Grand Slam played on clay — is the tournament that Casper has “always dreamed of winning.” It looks like that dream isn’t far away, either: He’s made back-to-back finals in Paris in 2022 and 2023.
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Be outside playing golf or boating
Episode featured: Episode 5
You can follow Ruud on Twitter and Instagram.
Age: 22
Representing: Canada
World ranking: No. 11
When Auger-Aliassime was still a teenager, Stefanos Tsitsipas called him “the most difficult opponent I’ve ever faced.” (By that point, Tsitsipas had faced Federer, Djokovic and Nadal.) His young career has been defined by promise, discipline and an unreadable serve. Auger-Aliassime lives in Monte Carlo now, but represents his native Canada: His proudest moment of 2022 was winning the Davis Cup with the Canadian team, and the tournament Auger-Aliassime loves most is the National Bank Open in Montreal.
No one in tennis denies Auger-Aliassime’s potential. His current coach, Toni Nadal, had never considered working with anyone except his nephew, Rafael, after retiring in 2017 — until Auger-Aliassime’s team approached him. “Let’s not beat about the bush,” Toni said in 2021. “This is a kid who theoretically should be among the best in the world in years to come. It’s always nice to work with someone like that.”
Grand Slams won: none
Most likely to: Carry a tune — Auger-Aliassime played trumpet in high school. Though he jokes to Tudum, “Don’t ask me to play again… ”
Episode featured: Episode 5
