In the age of web series and films, sports documentary series is a relatively new, coming of the age genre that gives viewers a peek into the lives and struggles of the sportspersons. It also helps the audience to realize that what they see on the field is just a very small part of the athletes’ actual lives.
You may have remembered tennis pro Andy Roddick saying in the opening of Netflix’s recently released sports docuseries Break Point Season 1 (Part -1), “The hardest part of sports is expectations.” Well, it’s not just for athletes, expectations are going to be high in 2023 for sports docuseries as well. With different OTT platforms vouching for the top spot, Netflix too is leaving no stone unturned and has already enlarged its spectrum for the same. As Netflix gets more sporty this year, we bring you 5 sports docuseries to watch on the Platform.
Break Point Season 1 (Part 1)
Break Point Season 1 (Part -1), is a new sports docuseries that is one of the newest entrants on Netflix. Released on January 13, 2023, it was produced in a collaboration between Netflix, the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), giving us an emotional and personal viewpoint into the players’ lives- their wins, losses and what goes on in between the serves.
Break Point was created by Box to Box films, who were the makers of Formula 1: Drive to Survive. According to the official synopsis of the series, “Break Point Season 1 (Part -1) follows a diverse group of tennis players on and off the court as they compete in grueling slams with hopes of winning a final and even bigger dream of becoming world number one. The docuseries gets up close and personal with top players on the tennis circuit through an entire year traveling across the globe for all four Grand Slams and the ATP and WTA tours.”
The series star Nick Kyrgios, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas. It also features the female world number one in tennis, Iga Swiatek, Ons Jabeur, and Aryna Sabalenka. Watch it if you are a tennis lover or idolize any of the world’s top players.
Netflix has announced that Part 2 of the series is scheduled to release in June 2023.
Full Swing (season 1)
Premiering on February 15, 2023, on Netflix, Full Swing is a sports documentary series that is another product of the Box to Box films that created the famous Formula 1: Drive to Survive. According to Netflix’s official synopsis, Full Swing follows a group of pro golfers across a grueling season of competition, including the PGA tour and (for the first time ever) all four of golf’s major championships: the Masters/Augusta National, PGA Championship, US Open and Open Championship. Apart from this the series also documents their wins and losses over the course, and at the same time digs deeper into the personal lives of some of the most talented golfers in the game — their families, rivalries, and an impressive amount of drama. Looking forward to experiencing some golfing on screen?
Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Season 5)
Right from its inception the docuseries Formula 1: Drive to Survive has been able to impress the audience with its cinematography, the portrayal of the Formula 1 race, and what goes behind it. Touted to be one of the best sports docuseries available on any platform, the successive four seasons have managed to keep alive the excitement and left the audience wanting more.
Well, it’s time to get back behind the wheel again and battle it out for the 2022 Formula 1 World Championship as Formula 1: Drive to Survive will soon be returning with a season 5, scheduled to release on February 24, 2023. Like its predecessors, season 5 is also expected to have never-before-seen backstage footage and interviews from the biggest names in the sport, promising unprecedented access to the personal lives of athletes and drama that you won’t otherwise find on the racing field.
If racing is your passion, you surely can’t give this a miss. Here’s the teaser for the new season.
Heart of Invictus
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, and Meghan’s first release are a sports docuseries, which is a part of their huge deal with Netflix. Heart of Invictus will be tracing a group of exceptional competitors from across the globe, all of whom have gone through life-changing injuries or illnesses that led them to compete in the Invictus Games. The Invictus Games is a sporting event that is the Paralympics equivalent for injured former members of the armed forces, which Harry served as a founder in 2014.
Depicting a story of hope, resilience, and a sheer amount of hard work, Heart of Invictus is a product of Archewell Productions in partnership with the Invictus Games Foundation.
Though Netflix hasn’t provided a date yet, the series is scheduled to release this year in 2023. Quite inspiring, isn’t it?
Tour de France (Untitled)
A must-watch for any avid cyclist around the world, Tour de France is one of the world’s biggest men’s multiple-stage bicycle races held in the European country and simply means a tour of France. Untitled as yet, Tour de France is another of Box to Box film’s products and is expected to chronicle the iconic sporting event featuring eight of the teams and their cyclists, their ups and downs spanning over a grueling three-week tour.
Watch this space for more exciting updates.