Netflix's Break Point only shows one side of the story

Allegations of domestic abuse against Alexander Zverev are omitted from a season two episode, writes Jamie Braidwood

- Jamie Braidwood

Perhaps the most immediate sign of trouble with the second season of Netflix's Break Point, the tennis spin-off of the streaming giant's Formula 1: Drive to Survive, is the number of episodes. While its debut season last year contained 10, split across two parts, its follow-up features just six, forcing the show to squeeze a number of stories from a compelling year into an even shorter running time: Coco Gauff’s memorable victory at the US Open, where the American teenager brilliantly stepped into the void left by Serena Williams, is afforded just 20 minutes; Carlos Alcaraz’s remarkable Wimbledon triumph is lucky to receive about half that.

What Break Point did find room for, however, was a whole 46minute episode dedicated to Alexander Zverev – a player who made an impressive return to the court in 2023 following a horrific ankle injury, but also one who is facing allegations of physical abuse from a former girlfriend. Have a guess: what do the documentary cameras focus on? Here’s a clue: it’s not the allegations of domestic abuse. In fact, those are not mentioned at all. And if the producers of Break Point weren’t able to cover the allegations for legal reasons, perhaps that should have been enough of a hint to find another subject to focus on.

Instead, Zverev, who has denied all of the allegations made against him, gets a pretty free ride. The 26-year-old German is not only framed as the comeback kid but as vindictive and vengeful – his episode is titled “Unfinished business”. He is introduced as an explosive, emotional competitor with a short fuse. Shots of Zverev, with his powerful 6ft 6in frame, destroying his racquets in anger are accompanied by bellowing shouts of frustration. He exudes swagger and confidence, joking that he was overlooked when