Tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world, with millions of fans tuning in to watch major tournaments like Wimbledon, the US Open, and the French Open. It is a sport that requires incredible skill, athleticism, and mental toughness.
There have been many great tennis players throughout history, from Rod Laver and Bjorn Borg to Serena Williams and Roger Federer. However, behind the glitz and glamour of the sport, there are also stories of grit, perseverance, and human struggle.
Let’s take a look at the 10 best tennis documentaries that capture the essence of this amazing sport.
1. Strokes of Genius (2018)
Strokes of Genius tells the story of the epic 2008 Wimbledon final between Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.
The match is widely regarded as one of the greatest tennis matches of all time, and this documentary does an excellent job of capturing the drama and intensity of the game. It features interviews with both players, as well as their coaches and other tennis legends like John McEnroe and Pete Sampras.
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2. Love Means Zero (2017)
Love Means Zero is a gripping 2017 tennis documentary that explores the life and career of legendary tennis coach Nick Bollettieri. Bollettieri is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the sport, having trained some of the greatest players to ever play the game, including Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, and Monica Seles.
The documentary takes an unflinching look at Bollettieri’s coaching style, which was characterized by tough love, ruthless competition, and an unrelenting focus on winning at all costs.
Through interviews with Bollettieri’s former players, including Agassi and Courier, and with Bollettieri himself, Love Means Zero paints a complex portrait of a man who was both a brilliant coach and a deeply flawed human being.
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3. Venus and Serena (2012)
Venus and Serena is a documentary that follows the lives of the Williams sisters, two of the greatest tennis players ever. The movie shows how their father, Richard Williams, trained them from a young age to become champions and how they dominated the sport for years. The documentary also deals with some of the sisters’ challenges, both on and off the court.
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4. Unmatched (2010)
ESPN’s 30 for 30 documentary series has produced many great projects, and Unmatched is one of them. Unmatched follows the story of the legendary rivalry between Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova. The movie features interviews with both players and other tennis legends like Billie Jean King and John McEnroe.
The documentary shows how Evert and Navratilova pushed each other to become better players and how their rivalry helped raise the women’s tennis profile.
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5. McEnroe (2022)
John takes a nostalgic trip down memory lane, reliving the highs and lows that defined his career, all within the backdrop of a single night in New York City.
McEnroe delves into John’s journey, with appearances from fellow tennis legends Billie Jean King and Bjorn Borg, as well as renowned musician Keith Richards and his own family.
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6. Althea (2014)
The 2014 documentary Althea chronicles the life of Althea Gibson, a trailblazing athlete who broke down barriers in both tennis and society. Gibson was the first African American to win a Grand Slam title, and she paved the way for future black athletes like Arthur Ashe and the Williams sisters.
The film features interviews with Gibson’s family, friends, and fellow tennis players and archival footage that brings her story to life. “Althea” explores the many challenges that Gibson faced as a black woman in a predominantly white and male sport, from segregation and discrimination to financial struggles and personal setbacks.
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7. The Battle of the Sexes (2013)
Not to be confused with the 2017 film of the same name, The Battle of the Sexes is a documentary about the famous match between Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. The match was a landmark moment in women’s tennis, as King defeated Riggs
The match was a landmark moment in women’s tennis, as King defeated Riggs in straight sets, proving that women could compete at the highest levels of the sport. The documentary features interviews with King, Riggs, and other tennis legends like Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert, as well as with cultural icons like Gloria Steinem and Rosie Casals.
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8. Citizen Ashe (2021)
Citizen Ashe is a 2014 documentary about the life and legacy of Arthur Ashe, one of the greatest tennis players of all time and a civil rights activist. The film takes a comprehensive look at Ashe’s life, from his childhood in segregated Richmond, Virginia, to his rise to the top of the tennis world and his work as a humanitarian and activist.
The documentary features interviews with Ashe’s family members, friends, and fellow tennis players, as well as with cultural icons like Harry Belafonte and Johnnie Cochran. It explores how Ashe used his platform as a tennis player to advocate for racial equality and social justice and how he continued to fight for these causes after his retirement from the sport.
Citizen Ashe also delves into some of the challenges that Ashe faced in his personal life, including his struggle with racism and discrimination in the tennis world and his battle with HIV/AIDS, which ultimately claimed his life in 1993.
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9. Being Serena (2018)
Being Serena follows Serena Williams as she prepares to return to tennis after giving birth to her daughter.
The series gives viewers a behind-the-scenes look at Williams’ life both on and off the court and shows how she balances being a mother, a wife, and a professional athlete. The series also explores some of the challenges Williams faced during her pregnancy and after giving birth.
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10. Break Point (2023)
The ultimate aspiration of any tennis player is to reach the pinnacle of their sport, lifting a trophy and being crowned number one.
As the older guard of tennis legends gradually approaches the end of their careers, a new generation of players eagerly awaits the chance to enter the spotlight.
Break Point takes a year-long, intimate look at these young athletes as they compete across the ATP and WTA tours on a global scale.
Although there are many things that make Break Point worth the watch, it’s worth mentioning that the documentary has been criticized for not going deep into the tennis side, meaning that it will likely appeal to casual tennis fans more than those who follow the sport very closely.
What’s Your Take on The Best Tennis Documentaries?
Now that you’ve seen our take on the best tennis documentaries, we’d love to see yours. Leave a comment letting us know which one of these documentaries is your favorite!
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Dezo is the editor-in-chief of Celebtainment. She has over 10 years of experience in entertainment writing. Email: editor@celebtainment.com
