Break Point

Nick Kyrgios comes to the 2022 Australian Open as the ultimate outsider. His massive serve is matched only by his short fuse, and while he's one hell of an entertainer, questions abound about whether or not he's maximizing his talent. Once seen as the sport's next superstar, he hasn't played for months, and no one is certain if he'll even be on the Tour next year. As Kyrgios struggles through the Singles bracket, his childhood friend Thanasi Kokkinakis is there to help him find the joy in his game once again. Can these two best mates pull off a Doubles upset for the ages?

The Australian Open kicks off amidst controversy as protests erupt over the country's decision to deport defending champion Novak Djokovic. It's a symbolic moment, as many of the past decade's dominant players are absent from this tourney, opening the door for a new generation. World No. 7 Matteo Berrittini and his girlfriend, No. 43 Ajla Tomljanovic, are each hoping to take advantage of the opportunity to bag their first Grand Slam wins. They'll need each other for support through the grueling early rounds of this event - because in a game that's played as much in the mind as with the body, it takes more than physical skill to claim the biggest prize.

Played against the desert backdrop of Palm Springs, California, Indian Wells is sometimes known as "The Fifth Slam." It's considered a litmus test for the season, and with a relatively open field, some of the Tour's best young players have room to make waves. For Maria Sakkari, a Greek powerhouse currently ranked No. 6, it's a chance to overcome her mental demons and finally reach her potential. Meanwhile, top-ranked American male and California native Taylor Fritz could become the first American in over two decades to win his home state's most iconic tournament. As both players cruise towards the finals, can either seize this career-changing opportunity?

Spain's Paula Badosa rocketed up the rankings on her way to this year's Madrid Open, entering the tournament as No. 2 in the world and the hometown favorite - but she's been publicly open about her struggles with anxiety and depression, and the pressure of expectation isn't helping. Meanwhile, Tunisian trailblazer Ons Jabeur has used her innate sense of determination and a wildly imaginative playing style to overcome a lack of resources; now ranked No. 10 in the world, she's set her sights on the chance to be the first Arab and African player to win a major tournament. On the clay courts of Madrid, one of these inspiring women will stumble, and the other will soar.

The French Open has never seen a more dominant player than Rafael Nadal, whose 13 championship wins coming into the 2022 season are unlikely to ever be matched. But two young players wait in the wings, both carrying pieces of Nadal's legacy. On one side of the draw is Canadian prodigy Felix Auger-Aliassime. Ranked No. 9 and still looking for his first major win, Felix has recently enlisted Toni Nadal - Rafa's uncle - as a coach. On the other side of the draw is Casper Ruud, a Norwegian clay court specialist who has spent years training at Nadal's tennis academy, regularly sparring with the legend himself. Can either of these young men take down their idol on center court at Roland Garros, where Rafa reigns supreme?

Wimbledon is the cathedral of tennis, and with its all-white dress code and royal traditions, the oldest Grand Slam represents the pinnacle of the sport for fans and players alike. After his doubles win at the Australian Open, Nick Kyrgios enters the 2022 tournament ready to prove that he can finally reach his singles potential. On the women's side, Ajla Tomljanovic needs to overcome her personal and professional heartbreaks to master her mental game once and for all. As they win their way through the early rounds, both Kyrgios and Tomljanovic will lean on their fathers for encouragement and support. But when one player challenges the tournament's high standards of decorum, will it cost them everything?

As Wimbledon 2022 rolls on, two unconventional players are making history on its pristine grass courts. Women's No. 2 Ons Jabeur broke through with a life-changing win in Madrid earlier in the season; now, she's carrying the hopes of the entire African continent as she pursues her first Grand Slam. Nick Kyrgios, meanwhile continues to play brilliantly through a cloud of scandal, and he's learning to use his temper as a tool to throw opponents off their game. In the final, Jabeur's finesse comes under attack from Elena Rybakina's massive serve, while Kyrgios goes head to head with defending champion Novak Djokovic, a patient, methodical giant who's unlikely to be perturbed by chaos.

The streets of New York City are always buzzing for the last Grand Slam of the year. But the 2022 U.S. Open is more electric than usual: Serena Williams announced she would retire at the end of the tourney, and the media frenzy surrounding her is at a fever pitch. It's a nightmare for Serena's opponents, but for Ajla Tomljanovic, it's a chance to prove she's found the mental strength to play up to her potential. When the two women go head to head in a third round match, not only does Tomljanovic have to beat the G.O.A.T. to move on - she has to do it in front of 24,000 screaming fans rooting for her to fail.

The young guns continue to shine at the U.S. Open, as women's No. 1 Iga Swiatek, men's No. 3 Carlos Alcaraz, and men's No. 22 Frances Tiafoe reach the quarter finals. Swiatek has an incredible eight titles and 37 consecutive wins coming into this tournament, but the noise of New York City - and the Open's raucous crowd - could throw her off her game. For Tiafoe, it's the chance to achieve a lifelong dream that started on the courts of a Maryland tennis center, where his father, an immigrant from Sierra Leone, worked on the maintenance staff. He's got a chance to become the first American man to win the Open trophy in almost 20 years, but can he make it past Rafael Nadal?

The 2022 season draws to a close with the ATP/WTA Finals, in which the top eight men and women compete for a huge payday. Taylor Fritz gets a last minute call to join the men's tournament in Turin after an injury to Carlos Alcaraz - but he'll have to play back-to-back matches against Nadal and Djokovic to prove he belongs there. At the women's tourney in Ft. Worth, Aryna Sabalenka is trying to end the hardest year of her career on a high note - but to reach the final, she'll need to take down Iga Swiatek, the seemingly unstoppable No. 1. The odds are against her, and there's only one thing Sabalenka knows for sure: when in trouble, hit harder.