A new Netflix series of Break Point is released on Wednesday and one of the most explosive episodes reopens a bitter feud between Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev.
Taking viewers behind the scenes on the tennis tour, the second edition of Break Point focuses on some players who took centre stage in the first series, while also introducing viewers to new names.
While Zverev is not a new face to tennis fans around the world, he didn’t take part in Break Point season one and made it clear in this episode that he wanted to put that right by being part of the show.
A whole episode is devoted to Zverev’s comeback from a serious ankle injury sustained in a French Open semi-final against Rafael Nadal in May 2022 and it includes his battle with diabetes, as well as details on his relationship with glamorous girlfriend Sophia Thomalla.
The German star reflects on his recovery from an injury that he feared could end his career and as he made his way back to full fitness, he took on old rival Medvedev in Monte Carlo last March.
It was Zverev’s first match back on a clay court since he sustained the injury against Nadal and he didn’t try to hide his dislike of world No 3 Medvedev in some cutting comments.
“Look, Medvedev is one of the best players in the world, but I also think that a lot of things that Medvedev does are frustrating at times,” began Zverev.
“He’s someone who knows how to play with the head of the opponent. I think there are a lot of unfair things happening in the game that he uses quite well to his advantage.
“I like to win and lose by playing tennis. I’m not someone who tries to do dirty games just to put your opponent off. That’s not how I was taught the game.”
Zverev’s brother Mischa also chipped in with his negative views on Medvedev as he said: “Whether it is talking to the crowd or talking to the chair umpire, he uses the whole stadium as a took to win a match. That’s why he is so tough to play.
“You are focusing on closing out the match and all of a sudden, you imagine a green elephant walks across the court. You would be like, ‘why is that green elephant there’ and that’s because we are humans. You get distracted and Medvedev knows how to draw energy from that.”
Zverev pushed Medvedev in a gripping contest on the red clay in Monte Carlo and appeared to be in control of the match until the Russian smashed a pole out of the net and also ran off for a toilet break shortly before a Zverev service game.
It is considered to be disrespectful to take a break when an opponent is about to serve and the move by Medvedev to leave the court when he was a game away from defeat appeared to unsettle Zverev.
With Zverev’s coaching team wearing microphones during the match, viewers can hear them suggesting Medvedev has knocked their man out of his stride as the tide on court suddenly turns.
Medvedev contributes to the story unfolding in Break Point as his voiceover suggests he will ‘do anything’ to win a match, with Zevrev concerning the tactics of his opponent got to him.
“There were things that started to get into my head,” said Zverev. “Taking stakes out of the net, toilet breaks… I’m definitely getting more frustrated as the match goes on.”
Medvedev saved two match points before sealing a 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 7-5 win, with footage on Break Point showing Zverev breaking down and crying loudly in the dressing room as his frustrations overflowed after the match.
“It was just painful to finish a match like that,” he added. “This is not how it is supposed to go. This is not how it is supposed to be. I felt like that moment of breakthrough, of having that one result and being back to yourself, it slipped away.”
Zverev’s coaching team are heard suggesting they have ‘lost all respect’ for Medvedev and after this spicy episode of the Netflix series, the stakes are certain to be raised when these two explosive competitors meet again on a tennis court.