The making of Netflix's 'Break Point' series - interview with Showrunner, Kari Lia
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From the creators of 'Drive to Survive' comes the latest Netflix series following the world's greatest tennis stars during a year on tour. We caught up with Showrunner Kari Lai to get an inside view on producing one of the most anticipated series of the year and what fans can expect when the first episode drops on 13 January.
Can you give us a brief summary of what fans can expect from the new series?
The series gives an unflinching, behind the scenes look into the lives of some of the best tennis players in the world. These are dramatic, human stories about the moments of triumph and defeat.
How do you think it compares to the Drive to Survive series? How different were they to film and work across?
It’s similar because it goes behind the scenes of a major sport, but that’s where it ends. Tennis is about an individual - they’re alone on that court- so it’s about capturing their story. The tennis season is also incredibly long!
Why do you think these docu-series capture the imagination of wider audiences?
Although the series is about tennis players it should be relatable whether you know about tennis or not. It’s about perseverance and joy, loneliness and defeat.
What were the biggest challenges in filming throughout the series?
The tennis season is incredibly long and tournaments aren’t short either. So as much as we wanted to film everything, we had to be very choosey what we would cover.
What was it like to work with the players on set?
The players were fantastic to work with. You can’t help but like them and want them to do well.
Were there any stand out events that you visited as you followed the players around the world?
It was incredible to see Serena play at the US Open and how much the crowd adored her. That’s a really tough audience to play in front of - some of our players crumbled and other shone.
Without giving away too much are there any storylines or players that people should look out for?
For me the the two players worth watching out for in the series are Ons Jabeur and Ajla Tomljanovic. It was brilliant to be able to join them on their journey over the past year. Not only are they fantastic players but they’re both incredibly nice people.
Break point
Watch the new season of 'Break Point' exclusively on Netflix from Friday 13 January. You can find out everything you need to know about the series in our preview.