What happened after Ons Jabeur’s heroics, Paula Badosa’s heartbreak on 'Break Point'?
Episode 4 of the docuseries explored how players deal with “Great Expectations” during a pressure-filled week in Madrid. But what happened after Netflix cameras stopped rolling?
FLASHBACK: Ons Jabeur defeats Jessica Pegula in the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open final.
During Episode 4 of Break Point, Netflix’s binge-worthy docuseries about the 2022 pro tennis season, it’s all about the women.
“Great Expectations” highlights the action during the Mutua Madrid Open, a major tune-up event ahead of Roland Garros, and gets deep about the unique issues and pressures faced by elite female athletes—from prize money inequality, to the “sacrifices” they make every day in delaying pregnancy until after their pro careers.
The highs and the lows are perfectly encapsulated in the contrast between Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur—the history-maker who lifted the Madrid trophy with tears of joy—and top-ranked Spaniard Paula Badosa—who crashed out of her home tournament amid tears in a brutal defeat.
But what happened after Netflix cameras stopped rolling?
How did Jabeur’s Madrid win affect the course of her season?
“Winning in Madrid sets you up for the rest of the season globally,” one agent tells cameras in a confessional interview. That might have also been the case for Jabeur, but it took a while for the results to show.
Off-screen, the Charleston finalist and Madrid champion went on to reach another WTA 1000-level final in Rome, solidifying her place as one of the favorites heading into Roland Garros. But just as Break Point didn’t depict her Charleston and Rome runs, Jabeur was also absent from its Roland Garros coverage (Episode 5), having suffered a shock first-round defeat to Magda Linette.
The 27-year-old would bounce back at Wimbledon, making history by becoming the first African woman and Arab player ever to reach a Grand Slam final. She would repeat the feat again at the US Open, and go on to qualify for the WTA Finals for the first time as a result.
Has Ons made changes to her “all-Tunisian” team after Madrid?
Break Point takes viewers all the way home to Tunisia to uncover Jabeur’s inspirational backstory, with heartfelt family scenes and adorable baby photos driving home the importance of her roots.
Fans also get to know her all-Tunisian team, made up of Issam Jellali, her primary coach since 2020, and Karim Kamoun, her husband-turned-physio. “I need to help my wife. Her dream is my dream,” Kamoun told cameras, as the pair explained how they balance their dual roles as spouses and business partners.
Her core team has stayed the same in 2023, though Jabeur made one major behind-the-scenes change by joining Naomi Osaka’s boutique agency, Evolve, last week. Previously represented by TopFive Management, Jabeur joined fellow Break Point star Nick Kyrgios on the growing roster.
With her focus on growing Tunisian tennis, the impact of Jabeur’s wins is also having a ripple effect back home. Tunisia featured on the WTA calendar for the first time ever in 2022, with Ons reaching the quarterfinals on home soil at the 250-level event in the fall.
Was Paula able to bounce back after her Madrid defeat?
One of the most striking moments of the episode featured Badosa debriefing with her team at their hotel following her lopsided 6-3, 6-1 loss to former champ Simona Halep.
A player who has long been open in sharing her mental health struggles—including her battles with depression and anxiety—Badosa described being “blocked mentally” during the match and wanting nothing more than to leave the court. As the Spaniard let viewers into some of her darkest internal narratives, her concerned team suggests she takes a break or goes home to recharge in the future.
After talking it out, Badosa ultimately pushed on—but her woes only continued during a lackluster 2022 season plagued by injury. Struggling with consistency and early exits, the Spaniard’s ranking now sits outside the WTA Top 10.
Where was Carlos Alcaraz during Episode 4?
The Madrid tournament did crown a hometown champion in 2022—but it wasn’t Badosa.
When Carlos Alcaraz lifted the men’s trophy, his hype officially reached a fever pitch. The 19-year-old had already won the title in Rio de Janeiro, claimed his first ATP Masters 1000 crown in Miami and triumphed on Pista Rafa Nadal in Barcelona, being tipped as the runaway favorite ahead of Roland Garros.
Unfortunately, Netflix cameras captured none of Alcaraz’s rise in the first half of the season: Miami, like Rome, was omitted from the show’s narrative, as were 500-level events like Rio and Barcelona.
Other Break Point stars were also noticeably absent from the action this episode. Matteo Berrettini was out for two months recovering from right hand surgery, Taylor Fritz skipped Madrid and Rome with a foot injury, and Nick Kyrgios skipped the clay season entirely to stay home with family in Australia.