Pop Culture

PHOTOS: Félix Auger-Aliassime is the last 'Break Point' star left standing at the Australian Open

The Canadian dodged the so-called "Netflix curse" against Francisco Cerundolo, but his fellow docuseries stars have not been so lucky.

ByStephanie Livaudais

Published Jan 20, 2023

WATCH: Recapping the on- and off-court action at the Australian Open on The Break.

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The jokes were funny at first, but now the so-called “Netflix curse” is becoming all too real.

Amid an Australian Open full of upsets, the stars of the new tennis docuseries Break Point appear to have been hit the hardest. Of the 10 players followed by Netflix cameras for the first five episodes, just one player made the second week in Melbourne: Félix Auger-Aliassime.

“My girlfriend showed me today. I wasn't aware,” Auger-Aliassime told the press after defeating Francisco Cerundolo in four sets on Friday. “I was aware that players were losing, I'd see players were losing, but it didn't cross my mind until she showed me the thing this morning. I thought it was funny…

“Maybe the players that lost, maybe they do feel like it's connected somehow. I don't think they do. I don't think it's connected anyhow. But, yeah, so funny how things work out sometimes.”

If Auger-Aliassime can see the funny side, it’s because things have been working out for him in Melbourne. The 22-year-old was tested in each of his first three matches—14 sets in all—but he now sits one win away from equalling his best performance Down Under.

But his fellow streaming stars have clearly not been quite so lucky. Here’s a recap of how each of the 10 profiled players have fared since the new series dropped:

Nick Kyrgios

Episode 1: "The Maverick" (Read More)

Absent — Kyrgios was forced to withdraw before the Australian Open began, citing a left knee injury that will require arthroscopic surgery.

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Thanasi Kokkinakis

Episode 1: "The Maverick" (Read More)

Second round — Kokkinakis lost to Andy Murray in a marathon five-set battle that finished just past 4 a.m. in Melbourne.

Matteo Berrettini

Episode 2: "Take the Crown" (Read More)

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First round — Murray (right) is responsible for two upsets of Break Point stars, having also defeated No. 13 seed Berrettini in five sets to start the tournament.

Ajla Tomljanovic

Episode 2: "Take the Crown" (Read More)

Absent — Tomljanovic withdrew before the tournament began, citing a knee injury.

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Taylor Fritz

Episode 3: "California Dreaming" (Read More)

Second round — No. 8 seed Fritz was upset by Aussie wildcard Alexei Popyrin in five sets.

Maria Sakkari

Episode 3: "California Dreaming" (Read More)

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Third round — No. 6 seed Sakkari lost in three sets to world No. 87 Zhu Lin.

Paula Badosa

Episode 4: "Great Expectations" (Read More)

Absent — Badosa was forced to withdraw before the tournament after picking up an adductor injury in Adelaide.

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Ons Jabeur

Episode 4: "Great Expectations" (Read More)

Second round — World No. 2 Jabeur was stunned in three sets by former French Open finalist Marketa Vondrousova.

Félix Auger-Aliassime

Episode 5: "The King of Clay" (Read More)

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Fourth round, and counting — Auger-Aliassime, the lone Break Point star remaining in the draw, will face world No. 71 Jiri Lehecka next.

Casper Ruud

Episode 5: "The King of Clay" (Read More)

Second round — World No. 3 Ruud lost in four sets to American player Jenson Brooksby.

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Click here for the official Baseline review of Break Point, now streaming on Netflix.

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