Djokovic, Federer, Nadal, Murray and the Williams sisters. Even for those with no interest in tennis, these names are still revered and worshipped around the world, the players hailed as something closer to a demigod than a human. The elite level of tennis has come to be dominated by a handful of players in recent years and while everyone loves the story of an underdog triumphing against a legend in the sport, it’s hard not to be mesmerised by the accolades that are long and exhausting to each name above. Still, what goes on in the personal lives of these professionals remains to be seen. From their intensive training, to their family life and relationships, so much is kept behind closed doors, making the world of elite tennis one of mystery and intrigue.
Thankfully, the good folks at Netflix have seemingly heard our cries and are set to deliver a tennis docuseries that follows a similar vein to the likes of The Last Dance and Formula 1’s Drive to Survive. It seems we can’t get enough of sports documentaries, something that was made clear with the incredible success of The Last Dance. Already, Netflix announced it would have an upcoming series about the PGA Tour. But the latest announcement of a documentary series highlight the world of professional tennis has audiences intrigued.
The series will feature the four Grand Slam tournaments – Australian Open, Roland-Garros (French Open), Wimbledon, US Open – as well as the ATP Tour, WTA Tour and ATP Media. Cameras are scheduled to begin rolling this month, capturing the start of the 2022 season at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, an event which has been marred by the recent saga surrounding Novak Djokovic as his deportation has left a gaping hole in the field and could just see a newcomer take out the title.
Speaking about the upcoming project, Brandon Ring, Netflix Vice President of Unscripted and Documentary Series, expressed: “We are excited to continue bolstering our lineup of sports programming with this behind-the-scenes documentary series.”
He added: “Tennis is beloved all over the world, with high-stakes tournaments hopping across continents and athletes hailing from countless countries. Through this historic partnership with the four Grand Slam tournaments, the ATP Tour, WTA Tour, and ATP Media, the series will be packed with rare access and rich personal stories that are sure to draw in longtime fans and new audiences alike.”
A release date for the upcoming series is yet to be announced, while the title also remains under wraps. However it’s safe to assume that should it be covering much of the 2022 season, we can likely expect it to drop on the streaming platform in 2023. We’ll be sure to bring you updates as more information unfolds.
