Netflix Break Point Season 2: Introducing the new stars

Tommy Paul, Holger Rune, Ben Shelton and Alexander Zverev are the new stars in Netflix’s tennis series Break Point.

ATPTour.com helps fans get to know each of the new featured players in the show. 

Tommy Paul
If you look up “laid back” in the dictionary, there is a good chance you will see Tommy Paul’s photo. The American is as cool as they come on the ATP Tour.

As focussed as Paul is on improving his game, he enjoys his time off the court with family and friends. It would not be a surprise to see the Top 20 star out fishing with his buddies, as is the case in Break Point. He also is a big sports fan, particularly of the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles.

“When I turned pro, I was kind of in my party phase,” Paul said. “Got a little money in my pocket and I just thought ‘Let’s have fun’, you know? Kind of got caught up in it.”

After struggling early in his professional career to maximise his potential, Paul has soared in recent years under the guidance of Brad Stine, the former coach of Jim Courier and Kevin Anderson among others. Netflix also takes a look at the special relationship he shares with his mother, who rushed in her work uniform to fly across the world and watch her son reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

“He had some tough times. I remember getting some gut-wrenching phone calls like, ‘Mom, what am I doing?’ It broke my heart,” she said. “He was watching Frances and Taylor just killing it. It made him kind of doubt that he had what it took. But now I’m just so thrilled to see it coming together.”

Holger Rune
Put a goal in front of Rune, and there is no doubt the Dane will do everything in his power to achieve it. Break Point examines the determination and mindset of Rune, one of the brightest young stars on the ATP Tour.

The audience gets to know Rune and his family, including mother Aneke Rune, to learn how he turned a childhood dream of becoming one of the best players in the world into a reality. The show also covers Rune’s relationship with Patrick Mouratoglou, the former coach of Serena Williams. It becomes clear that Rune is focussed on squeezing every bit of potential out of his game.

“From a very young age I told my mom, I told my family this is what I want to do and they have been super supportive,” Holger said.

Aneke explained: “When he was younger, he went full in whatever he did. He didn’t care about what other people thought. To be so strong-minded so young, I think it helped him a lot.”

Ben Shelton
One of the breakthrough stars of the 2023 season was Shelton, who surged to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open and the semi-finals of the US Open.

All eyes were on the American trio of Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul and Frances Tiafoe entering the US Open. But it was Shelton who stole the show, defeating Paul and Tiafoe en route to the last four.

The son of former World No. 55 Bryan Shelton, Ben competed at the University of Florida (where Bryan was the head coach) before turning professional. The lefty has quickly become one of the most dangerous players on the circuit, consistently blasting serves of more than 140 miles per hour to overwhelm opponents.

Shelton is determined to continue his climb. A Top 20 player before he turned 21, the American is eager to push forward.

“It’s hard to believe that I’ve accomplished that at 20 years old, but I don’t like to put a ceiling on myself,” Shelton said. “I want to continue to push forward. I’m ready to compete at the highest level. I don’t want this to be my peak.”

Alexander Zverev
Zverev has accomplished feats that most players on the ATP Tour dream of. The German is a two-time Nitto ATP Finals champion, Olympic gold medalist and has climbed as high as No. 2 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings.

He was two wins from claiming his first major title at Roland Garros in 2022, when disaster struck during his semi-final against Rafael Nadal. Zverev rolled over his foot and tore multiple ligaments, ending his season and putting his future in doubt.

Break Point covers Zverev’s efforts to come back from his devastating injury, bringing fans into a meeting with his surgeon as well as exclusive insight from his team, including brother Mischa Zverev and much more. How close was his career to being over? What was it like returning to Roland Garros one year on from one of the toughest moments of his life?

“After you get injured you have so many thoughts. At the beginning I thought I’m done,” Zverev told Melo. “I thought my career was done. Obviously I was crying because I had pain as well. I was screaming quite a lot. But my main thought was there is no way in hell I’m going to play tennis at that level again.”