Break Point: Fans Allege Netflix Curse As Stars Like Kyrgios, Jabeur, Fritz Crash Out of Australian Open

• Netflix has downplayed a huge number of top stars exiting the Australian Open
• The majority of these tennis stars were featured in the 'Break Point' docuseries
• Taylor Fritz and Ons Jabeur are the two latest stars to exit the open tournament

Is the Netflix curse a thing? Tennis fans are convinced it is, as top stars who were featured in a Netflix documentary continue to crash out of the Australian Open.

Netflix recently released a 10-part docuseries that captured the 2022 season of some top stars titled Break Point.

A staggering eight of the 10 stars featured in the first five episodes have already exited the tournament before round three.

Taylor Fritz and Ons Jabeur were the latest casualties to fall on Wednesday. The eighth seed was regarded as America's hope of winning the singles title this year, but lost to Alexei Popyrin after five sets.

Napoli's title dream fuelled by 'goal twins' Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia

Football

Jabeur, who was recently signed into Naomi Osaka's sports agency, lost to unseeded Marketa Vondrousova.

13th seed Matteo Berrettini was the first to go out after losing to the indefatigable Andy Murray. Murray beat another Netflix star, Thanasi Kokkinakis in one of the longest matches of the Australian Open.

Jenson Brooksby then beat second seed, Casper Ruud as the Netflix premonition began to gather pace.

Before the tournament, three Break Point stars - Nick Krygios, Ajla Tomljanovic and Spain's Paula Badosa - all withdrew with injuries.

Of the 10, only Maria Sakkari and Felix Auger-Aliassime remain. Canada's Auger-Aliassime has already progressed to the fourth round after beating Argentina's Cerulondo Francisco. Sakkari faces Lin Zhu later on Friday.

Netflix has been quick to point out that the happenings in Melbourne are pure coincidence, but fans have had their say either way.

Rafael Nadal's wife breaks down

Sports Brief had earlier reported that Rafael Nadal's wife, Maria Francisca Perello broke down in tears as her husband struggled with injury at the Australian Open.

Immobile blow but Lazio see off Sassuolo to keep in Euro chase

Football

Perello has often been seen courtside supporting her husband, but had to undergo a painful experience on January 18 as Nadal struggled with a leg injury.

Nadal was in action against Mackenzie McDonald, who eventually got the better of the Spanish icon in straight sets at the Rod Laver Arena.