Nick Kyrgios is the latest mega-star to withdraw from this year’s Australian Open and fans believe the absence of some of the game’s biggest faces is down to one thing — the ‘Netflix Curse’.
Indeed, Netflix’s new fly-on-the-wall documentary ‘Break Point’, which follows a number of ATP and WTA players on tour, has coincided with injuries to several names that feature prominently in the TV series.
Just a day after the show was released, both Paula Badosa and Ajla Tomljanovic announced they would not be able to compete in Melbourne due to injury.
Badosa suffered an abductor injury during her quarter-final victory over Beatriz Haddad Maia at the Adelaide International 2 last week, while Tomljanovic is still recovering from a knee problem.
Now, with Kyrgios becoming the latest to share some bad news, a number of viewers are convinced that the documentary is cursing those on it.
VIDEO: 'Break Point' trailer
What happened to Kyrgios?
The Wimbledon runner-up was predicted to go far in his home Slam but revealed he is suffering from a knee injury, which requires surgery.
Kyrgios, who was seeded 19th, was due to play Russia’s Roman Safiullin on Tuesday.
His physio, Will Maher, said the Australian star “didn’t pull up great” during his exhibition match with Novak Djokovic on Friday and that he didn’t feel like he was capable of playing multiple matches in a row.
"It's obviously been pretty brutal before [one] of the most important tournaments of my career," Kyrgios said. "It hasn't been easy at all."
He added: "I'm devastated obviously. It's like my home tournament. I've had some great memories here.
"Obviously last year winning the title in doubles and playing the best tennis of my life probably. Then going into this event as one of the favourites, it's brutal."
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JANUARY 13: Nick Kyrgios of Australia plays a backhand in his Arena Showdown charity match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia ahead of the 2023 Australian Open at Melbourne Park on January 13, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Graham Denholm/Getty Images)
What have fans said about the ‘Netflix curse’?
With Kyrgios, Badosa and Tomljanovic all announcing their injuries since the release of ‘Break Point’, fans have taken to Twitter to share their theories.
“Badosa, Tomljanovic, Kyrgios… The Netflix Curse?”, tweeted The Tennis Podcast.
Meanwhile, journalist James Gray joked: “Pray for Casper Ruud, Taylor Fritz and Francis Tiafoe.”
A third added: “Netflix curse is real.”
What is ‘Break Point’ about?
Netflix revealed last year that they would follow a plethora of the world’s most established tennis players around the world as they bid to win silverware.
Created by the same team that masterminded the popular Formula 1: Drive to Survive series, the show is split into 10 episodes, which follow the entire tennis calendar.
The first five episodes have already been released and follow the Australian Open, Indian Wells, Madrid Open and French Open.
DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - DECEMBER 21: Nick Kyrgios of Eagles in action against Grigor Dimitrov of Falcons during day three of the World Tennis League at Coca-Cola Arena on December 21, 2022 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)
You can find all the latest tennis news and rumours here.
QUIZ: Did these tennis icons win 10 or more Grand Slam titles?