"Novak could do ten Netflix series and still win 20 Grand Slams": Holger Rune calls supposed Netflix curse 'stupid'

Holger Rune kicked off his 2024 Australian Open campaign with a hard-fought victory over the Japanese player Yoshito Nishioka (No. 61), securing a win with a scoreline of 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(3), 6-4. The Danish tennis sensation, prominently featured in the second season of Netflix's "Break Point," addressed the purported 'Netflix cursed' phenomenon during a press conference, using Novak Djokovic as an example.

In 2023, with the series premiering just before the Australian Open, the stars of the first season all experienced a disappointing tournament, leading to the coined term "Netflix cursed." However, for Holger Rune, this is not a factor to be considered. "It’s stupid," Rune asserted, dismissing any notion of a correlation between the Netflix series and the players' performance on the court.

World No. 8 is one of the standout stars of the second season of Netflix's "Break Point," has already secured his spot in the second round of the 2024 Australian Open. During a press conference, the Danish player was questioned about the 'Netflix Cursed' theory, and he used Novak Djokovic as a prime example to assert that such a curse doesn't exist.

"I think it's stupid, to be honest. No offense. I think it's nothing to do with that. I think Novak could do ten Netflix series & still win 20 Grand Slams or 24... I think Sabalenka did a few already, & she won the Australian Open last year. That’s it,"

The ten protagonists of the second season of "Break Point" (6 men and 4 women) had a challenging start at the 2023 Australian Open, with none of them exiting Melbourne with positive feelings. Three of them, Nick Kyrgios, Paula Badosa, and Alja Tomljanovic, couldn't even participate due to injuries. Others, like Matteo Berrettini, Taylor Fritz, and Casper Ruud, were eliminated in the second round.

The only consecutive victories were achieved by Maria Sakkari in the third round, while Felix Auger-Aliassime reached the fourth round. However, it was a disappointing outcome for both players, coincidentally seeded 6th in their respective draws.

As the 2024 tournament unfolds, attention has shifted once again to the new season's stars. Unfortunately, Nick Kyrgios won't be participating due to injury. Among those who have already played their first matches this year, Alexander Zverev, Holger Rune, Ben Shelton, Taylor Fritz, Aryna Sabalenka, and Jessica Pegula emerged victorious.

However, Maria Sakkari, Frances Tiafoe, and Tommy Paul are yet to make their debut in this year's competition.