break point podcast by Frankie Nicolazzi / Marcus Smith

Woohoo, the boys are back in town! Marcus and Frankie Preview the 5th Slam, Indian Wells. All the big boys are playing this year with the return of Novak Djokovic. Hear our dual takes while Marcus reports live from Indian Wells on Instagram!

Episode 104: Frankie & Marcus wanted to make this the 100th special edition episode of the BPP, but some important tournament in Australia got in the way. We bring it back to the origins of the BPP, what it was intended to be, what is has become, and how we are feeling about the men's game, tennis media, and where we will go next.

Episode 103: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the 2024 AO, where Jannik Sinner finally put it all together and wins his first Grand Slam title. Frankie is beyond ecstatic, as noticeable in this episode. We break down how he beat Daniil in the final, the secret to him winning the AO, and why the rest of the field should be scared for the foreseeable future.

Episode 102: Frankie & Marcus talk through the entertaining 1st week of this years Australian Open, with some big upsets, disappointments, and surprises in the draw. We are super excited for the QFs and on, and you should be too.

Episode 101: Frankie & Marcus preview one of our favorite tournaments of the year - the Australian Open. Who are the dark horses? What upsets are we picking to happen? Who will ultimately take the title?

Episode 100: Frankie & Marcus debate how Rafael Nadal will bounce back in 2024 after missing the 2023 season due to a hip operation. Will he return to the top 5? Win a Grand Slam? Retire at the end of 2024?

Episode 99: Happy New Year BPP Universe! Welcome to 2024! This year the tennis calendar is going to be WILD, and Frankie & Marcus are here for it. We break down our predictions for each Slam this year, who is going to break out, who is going to drop out of the top 10, and who will potentially take home Olympic Gold. How will Rafa Nadal fare this season? Will we see Nick Kyrgios on the court this year? We have some scorching hot takes, so make sure to tune in on this lovely New Year's day to hear it all.

Episode 98: Frankie & Marcus rip on the ATP Chair Umpires, and the ridiculous rules they have had to employ in 2023. What needs to change to make the game easier for everyone involved? Tune in to find out!

Episode 97: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the 2023 ATP year with the BPP version of the Oscar's, dishing out awards for:

Episode 96: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the thrilling 2023 Davis Cup, where Italy, led by Jannik Sinner, takes the crown home for the first time in 40 years, defeating Novak Djokovic and Serbia in the process. We review the stunning play by Sinner, the rise of Italian tennis, and what can be done in the future to make Davis Cup more attractive for the tennis world.

Episode 95: Frankie & Marcus discuss the all time performance put on by Novak Djokovic in the KO stage of the 2023 ATP Finals, the rise and future of Jannik Sinner, and what 2024 will look like for the remaining top players on tour.

Episode 94: Frankie & Marcus are back! After the first days of the Turin ATP World Tour Finals, we tackle the results in each group so far, who we think will make it out, and who will ultimately take home the crown. Will it be Novak Djokovic again? Or will someone challenge him for the throne? Tune in to find out!

Episode 93: Official Podcast Guest Co-Host Arabelle joins Frankie in this week's episode wrapping up the Paris Masters. Novak Djokovic added to his trophy collection taking down Grigor Dimitrov in the final, while Carlos Alcaraz bounced out early. Tune in for this and more of Arabelle's tennis takes!

Episode 92: What is the PTPA that we have all been hearing about from Novak Djokovic and Vasek Pospisil? Frankie & Marcus lay it all out for you in this special episode, voicing our opinions on the matter on how the ATP should start listening before it is too late.

Episode 91: Frankie & Marcus discuss one of the newest, hottest names in tennis who is an absolute show stopper at the young age of 19 - and also America's next tennis hope to win a slam since 2003 - Ben Shelton. Ben is an explosive, fiery, and entertaining player who has taken the sports world by storm with his phone celebration, 150 MPH serve, and ability to just have fun out there. We go into detail about how he unconventionally made it onto the pro tour, are his antics too much, and what his ceiling as a player is.

Episode 90: Frankie & Marcus chat about the current ATP swing in Asia, with some impressive results coming from the likes of Jannik Sinner and Alex Zverev. Who will take the Shanghai 1000 Masters title? Tune in to find out!

Episode 89: Frankie & Marcus chat about the change we are seeing the game of tennis. Less lateral side to side baselining, more up and down drop shots, net play, and more. Who was this change sparked by? Are other players adapting fasting enough? Will the trend continue? Listen to find out!

Episode 88: Frankie & Marcus tackle one of the lesser discussed topics in the tennis world, and that is the criteria players are inducted to the Tennis Hall of Fame. Should you be inducted for winning a Grand Slam? What about being world #1? How does impact off the court affect your status? We discuss all the above and more in this weeks episode.

Episode 87: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the 2023 US Open, where we saw Coco Gauff win her first career Major, and Novak Djokovic win his record setting 24th slam title. We chat about the headlines from the open, each of the finals played, what this means for the rest of 2023 and the beginning of the 2024 season, and more.

Episode 86: Frankie, Marcus, and special guest Pete Siozios preview this years 2023 US Open Men's Draw, going quarter by quarter in discussing our favorites, dark horses, potential upsets, and, of course, who is going to win it all.

Episode 85: Frankie & Marcus dive into the last 2 sensational Masters events on the both the men's and women's sides in Canada & Cincinnati. We chat about Jannik Sinner's first 1000s title, if Iga Swiatek is a liability after 2 SF losses, the greatness of Novak Djokovic, and if Carlos Alcaraz has been exposed.

Episode 84: Frankie & Marcus begin their myth busters mini-series! Tune in to listen to some astonishing facts about tennis you thought could never be true.

Episode 83: While Frankie is tanning his olive-colored skin in the Mediterranean Sea in Greece, Marcus breaks down the epic weekend we had at the 2023 Championships, detailing how Markéta Vondroušová became the unexpected Ladies Champion, and the epic final between King Carlos and Novak Djokovic and how it will shape the Men's game of years to come.

Frankie and Marcus are reunited and break down the watered-down action here at Wimbledon 2023. Hopefully, they get all their analysis in before the curfew (episode suspended).

Episode 80: Frankie & Marcus tackle some of the weirdest and non-sensical rules in tennis that need to change, including the bathroom break rules, coaching in tennis, medical timeouts, and more. We propose some solutions and would love to hear yours too! Contact us via Instagram DM @Breakpointpodcast7 with your suggestions and wild ideas.

Episode 79: Frankie & Marcus highlight the top 2 Scandinavian players in the world who have taken the tennis world by storm, Casper Ruud and Holger Rune. We highlight their play styles, likeability, rise to the top of the game, and their future in tennis.

Episode 78: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the incredible 2 weeks of tennis from the 2023 French Open at Roland Garros, where Iga Swiatek claimed her 3rd RG title, as well as Novak Djokovic, who in addition to winning his 3rd RG, has now won 23 Grand Slam titles, becoming the all time open-era leader in Grand Slam titles. We also discuss the runs of Karolína Muchová, Casper Ruud, and much more.

Episode 77: Frankie & Marcus recap Week 1 of the 2023 French Open, including how the Break Point Podcast Curse struck heavily in Week 1, the surprise runs of Elina Svitolina and South American clay courters, as well as our predictions for the rest of the tournament.

Episode 76: Frankie & Marcus preview the Men's and Women's 2023 French Open, as we discuss our predictions, key storylines, potential upsets and darkhorses, and answer some of our listener's questions from our Instagram Q&A! Thank you very much for participating, we will have another one coming up next week.

Episode 75: Frankie & Marcus discuss the disappointing news from the great Rafael Nadal, who will miss the 2023 French Open and beyond due to a ongoing hip injury. Nadal alluded to 2024 being his last year on tour. We go over the implications this has for the rest of the tour, Rafa and his legacy, and more.

Episode 74: Frankie & Marcus discuss the WILD week in Rome, which included major upsets of Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and the most unlikely winner of the tournament, Daniil Medvedev who danced (yes, pun intended) all over his competition.

Episode 73: Frankie & Marcus discuss the amazing run of podcast (Marcus) favorite Jan-Lennart Struff to the finals of the 2023 Madrid Masters, King Carlos' continued reign in Madrid, and we preview the final clay court Masters in Rome leading up to the French Open.

Episode 72: Frankie & Marcus discuss the wild week on the ATP Tour including some massive upsets leading into our preview episode of the 2023 Madrid Masters, where we throw out some HOT takes that you do not want to miss!

Episode 71: Frankie & Marcus discuss the thrilling week of tennis in Monte Carlo, as well as preview this upcoming weeks tournaments in Barcelona, Munich, and Banja Luka!

Episode 70: Frankie & Marcus head off to Europe (in spirit) to kickoff the 2023 Clay Season with the Monte Carlo Rolex Masters. We touch on who we think the favorites are now that Rafael Nadal & Carlos Alcaraz are out, who some of our Darkhorse picks are, and who can make a surprise run!

Episode 69: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the 2023 Miami Open, discussing the clinical run of Daniil Medvedev, match of the year candidate Sinner v. Alcaraz, and the denial of Elena Rybakina's pursuit of the Sunshine Double by Petra Kvitova. Thank you all for listening and make sure to follow/subscribe on all major social media platforms for the latest up to date news on our Podcast!

Episode 68: Halfway through the Sunshine Double! Frankie & Marcus talk about the thrilling Indian Wells Masters tournament won by no other than Carlos Alcaraz, as well as what to expect for the 2nd leg of the Sunshine Double in Miami, with our picks and predictions included. Thanks for listening, and make sure to follow us on all major platforms!

Episode 67: Frankie & Marcus dive into Indian Wells, the 1st of the sunshine double, with our thoughts, predictions, and hot takes on who will make it far in the tournament. Thank you for listening and make sure to subscribe/follow on all major platforms!

Episode 66: Frankie & Marcus discuss the top 2 Americans in the game today, Frances Tiafoe & Taylor Fritz. 2 different upbringings, chasing the 1 American tennis dream: to be the first American Slam Champ since Andy Roddick. Tune in to hear their backstories, analyzation of their play style, and what their future looks like on tour.

WARNING: SPOILER EPISODE FOR NETFLIX'S BREAK POINT

Episode 64: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the 2023 Australian Open, discussing how dominant Novak Djokovic was, the positives for Stefanos Tsitsipas, and how Aryna Sabalenka won the Women's title in a thrilling final. Thanks for listening and don't forget to subscribe and follow on all major platforms and socials!

Episode 63: Frankie & Marcus break down the 1st week of the 2023 Australian Open, talking the rise of American tennis, top seeds faltering early, and who we expect to make a deep run in week 2. Thanks for listening and make sure to subscribe and follow on all social medias and major platforms!

WARNING: SPOILER EPISODE FOR NETFLIX'S BREAK POINT

Episode 61: Frankie, Marcus, & our special guest from down under, Philip Hilble, preview the upcoming 2023 Australian Open, discussing our favorites to win it all, who is on upset alert, and who the biggest threats are to Novak Djokovic (if any at all). Make sure to subscribe, follow, and tune in on all major social media & media platforms!

Episode 60: In the 60th episode of the Break Point Podcast, Frankie and Marcus kick off 2023 with a preview of the upcoming ATP season, discussing potential breakout stars, end of year predictions, and expectations for some of the top players in the field. 

Episode 59: Frankie, Marcus, & recurring guest Lucas Pickering discuss some of Roger's greatest disappointment's of his professional career. While Roger's career was remarkable, everyone wishes they had a few moments, matches, and tournaments they have could have back. We detail some of these instances, how they came to be, and what "could" have been for Roger's all time stats had it gone his way. Make sure to hit subscribe to stay up to date with our episode releases!

Episode 58: For this December, the BPP will be honoring the great Roger Federer after his retirement from the game by releasing 3 "Fedcember" episodes, with Part 1 discussing Roger's greatest accomplishments, whether that be his insanely good stats achieved, or his outstanding influence on the game. Joined by special guest Lucas Pickering from Schoolyard Social, this series will highlight Roger's career and the impact he had on the tennis world. Make sure to subscribe to the BPP on all available platforms so you don't miss an episode!

Episode 57: Frankie & Marcus record their favorite episode of the year, which is the End of Year Awards! Awards include Player of the Year, Tournament of the Year, Disappointment of the Year, and many more! Tune in to listen, and respond to our polls Instagram! @breakpointpodcast7. Thanks for listening!

Episode 56: Frankie & Marcus chat about the past week of tennis at the 2022 ATP World Tour Finals, including how Novak Djokovic continues to dominate the sport, surprises of the week, and some disappointments. Thank you for listening and stay tuned for more! 

Episode 55: Frankie & Marcus talk through their thoughts, opinions, and picks for the 2022 ATP World Tour Finals in Turin, Italy. Thanks for listening!

Episode 54: In our latest episode, Frankie & Marcus sit down with NYC startup Schoolyard Social co-founders Win Smith & Lucas Pickering and talk about what Schoolyard Social is bringing to the world of fun social sporting events, such as organizing beer pong, spikeball, 3v3 basketball, tennis, and various other tournaments in the NYC region. We hope you enjoy and there will be more BPP content coming soon with these two. Give Schoolyard Social a follow on Instagram @schoolyardsocial to stay up to date with their latest events!

Episode 53: Frankie & Marcus dive into the illustrious career of none other than Roger Federer, one of the greatest tennis players of all time. who recently announced his retirement from the game following the 2022 Laver Cup. We take a look at the impact he had on and off the court, his insane statistics, and the legacy he is leaving behind in the game of tennis. 

Episode 52: Frankie & Marcus wrap up this year's US Open, discussing the Men's and Women's Finals, the major storylines of the tournament, and a sneak peek into the outlook for the rest of the year. 

Episode 51: Frankie & Marcus discuss the 1st week of the 2022 US Open, including Serena Williams, how week 1 played out, and what we have in store for week 2. Tune in and thank you for listening!

Episode 50: Frankie & Marcus do a DEEP dive into the US Open Men's and Women's Draws, detailing our predictions, dark horses, and analyzing potential matchups ahead of this years US Open. Stay tuned on Instagram for more US Open content next week!

Episode 49: Frankie, Marcus, and our special guests and longtime friends Matt Balilo & Anthony Santino join us for a throwback conversation about what it was like being a US Open ball boy in the mid 2010s. Join us for some curious insights, unheard stories, and some comedic relief. 

Episode 48: Alexander Zverev, the current number 2 player on the ATP Tour, opens up about his battle with diabetes and launches the Alexander Zverev Foundation, which advocates on the behalf of those living with Type 1 & Type 2 Diabetes, as well as support children with diabetes and provide medication for those in developing countries with the condition. Frankie and Marcus dive into the differences between Type 1 and Type 2, what dealing with diabetes is like as a tennis player, and what it means for Zverev's career.

Episode 47: In part 1 of our College Tennis series, Frankie, Marcus, and special guest Pete Siozios discuss if there should be a cap on foreign players in college tennis, what America can do better to improve its college tennis talent, and how the future of the system looks like. Stay tuned for more!

Episode 46: You wanted it, and we have delivered. An exclusive player profile episode on the recent 2022 Wimbledon Finalist and the most polarizing character in the game of tennis today, Nick Kyrgios. Frankie & Marcus go in depth talking about his backstory, his troubled years on the tour, and now his most recent success. Tune in to hear more, and thank you all for listening! 

Episode 45: Frankie & Marcus discuss the 2022 Wimbledon Gentlemen's and Ladies' Finals, including detailed analysis of how Novak defeated Nick, what the future for Nick Kyrgios looks like, Kazakhstan's first Grand Slam singles champion, and how the US Open might look now. Tune in and thank you for listening! 

Episode 44: Frankie & Marcus recap all the action from the past week at Wimbledon, including the amazing run of Tatiana Maria, the Nick Kyrgios run, and predictions for this weekends semi-final and finals action. Tune in!

MAJOR ALERT: Frankie and Marcus preview (arguably) the biggest tournament of the year, Wimbledon. They go quarter by quarter to break down and preview every storyline that could happen at this year's Wimbledon. Get out the crystal balls and tune-in!

On this week's episode, Frankie, Marcus, and special guest Sergio discuss the Spanish tennis system. What is the Spanish style of tennis? What has made the country such a tennis powerhouse? How does it compare to the United States? All these questions and more are answered, tune in to find out!

This week Marcus and Frankie profile two of the biggest fearhands on tour: Matteo Berrettini and Andrey Rublev.

Rafa Nadal is champion of Roland Garros for the 14th time! Marcus and Frankie breakdown the tournament, what this means for Rafa, and more. Tune in to find out!

In this week's episode, Frankie and special guest host Arabelle discuss what has happened at Roland Garros so far. Nadal's incredible comeback against Novak, Stef's disappointing loss to Holger Rune, and more!

Episode 38: Frankie, Marcus, and special guest Arabelle preview the 2022 French Open. Tsitsipas, Alcaraz, Novak, and the King of Clay Rafa Nadal all have a chance. Tune-in to hear our predictions and what to watch for!

Episode 37: Frankie & Marcus talk about the #1 star in the women's game, Iga Swiatek, and her rapid rise to the top of women's tennis.

Episode 36: Frankie & Marcus discuss the results of the 2022 Rome Masters and what it means for the upcoming French Open. Tune in!

Episode 35: Frankie & Marcus tackle the hottest question in tennis right now: is Carlos Alcaraz the best player on the planet currently? Tune in to hear us out!

Episode 34: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the American Tennis Series with proposed solutions and the long term outlook of the American game. 

Episode 33: Frankie & Marcus share their thoughts on the imposed ban on Russian & Belarusian tennis players at this years Wimbledon Championships.

Episode 32: In part 2 of our" Why American Tennis Is Struggling" mini series, Frankie, Marcus, & Marcus' former college teammate, Jan Leithner, discuss the differences between the American & European tennis systems on the professional, amateur, and recreational level. Tune in!

Episode 31: Frankie, Marcus, & special guest Dylan Roberts discuss why the USTA and American tennis has struggled over the past decade to produce an American champion on the men's side in part 1 of our "Why American Tennis Is Struggling Mini Series." 

Episode 30: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the 2022 Miami Masters and talk a little about the exciting upcoming clay season. Tune in!

Episode 29: Frankie & Marcus continue their ATP Player Profiles series with current rising stars Carlos Alcaraz & Jannik Sinner

Episode 28: Frankie & Marcus talk about the shocking retirement of Ash Barty and what it really means for pro tennis. Tune in!

Episode 27: Frankie & Marcus wrap up the 2022 Indian Wells Masters 1000 event and "preview" the 2022 Miami Masters.

Episode 26: Frankie & Marcus discuss the month of February 2022 of the ATP Tour and their predictions for Indian Wells.

Episode 24: Frankie & Marcus continue their ATP Player Profiles series with current top 5 players Alexander Zverev & Stefanos Tsitsipas

Episode 25: Frankie & Marcus discuss governing bodies of tennis and players responses to the ongoing Russia - Ukraine War. 

Episode 23: Frankie & Marcus start their ATP Player Profiles series with the current top 2 in the world - Novak Djokovic & Daniil Medvedev. 

Episode 22: Frankie & Marcus explain the 4 majors in the calendar tennis year and their varying surfaces. Thank you all for listening weekly, the support is greatly appreciated!

Episode 21: Frankie & Marcus discuss the various play styles in tennis that help beginners understand the various matchups of tennis better.

Episode 20: 20 episodes into the Break Point Podcast, Frankie & Marcus reflect on their findings from the 1st episode, which detailed the racquet demoing process and our final picks. Here we update our listeners on how it has been 3 months post racquet selection. Tune in!

Episode 19: Frankie & Marcus summarize the 2022 Australian Open and the amazing final between Rafael Nadal & Daniil Medvedev. 

Episode 18: Frankie & Marcus discuss the 2022 Australian Open so far, including surprises, upsets, and what to expect in week 2! 

Episode 17: Frankie & Marcus go over the basics of how to watch a tennis match for new viewers to the game, including where to watch, explanation of the scoring system, and what to look for in a match. Thank you for your continued support of the podcast!

Episode 16: Novak Djokovic has been deported from the Commonwealth of Australia for failing to follow immigration entry guidelines. Frankie & Marcus go into detail about the situation and the effects it will have on the 2022 Australian Open.

Episode 15: Frankie & Marcus give their predictions on the 2022 Australian Open, including the biggest storylines, surprise results, potential disappointments, and of course, the tournament winner. 

Episode 14: Frankie & Marcus discuss the abrupt breaking news of Novak Djokovic being detained at the Melbourne International Airport on his way to the 2022 Australian Open.

Episode 13: Frankie & Marcus discuss the biggest "What If's?" in tennis history that could have altered the history of tennis. Tune in to find out what our biggest "What If?" is!

Episode 12: Frankie & Marcus discuss their 2022 ATP Tour predictions, including Grand Slam winners, Year End #1, and more!

Episode 11: Frankie & Marcus host their tennis version of the "Oscar's" for the 2021 ATP Tour Year. Tune in to listen to our nominees, winners, and honorable mentions! 

Episode 10: Frankie & Marcus discuss the ongoing Peng Shuai situation in China. 

Episode 9: In this episode, Marcus & Frankie get creative in creating their "perfect tennis player" with taking the strokes, skills, and abilities from across the history of tennis and putting it all together. 

Episode 8: Frankie & Marcus discuss the "sport" of pickleball and its origins, how it is taking over tennis (?), and what it means for the future of tennis.

Episode 7: Davis Cup Finals 2021 Preview. Frankie & Marcus discuss the 2nd edition of the newly formatted Davis Cup Finals, with our thoughts, concerns, and predictions on the event. 

Episode 6: Frankie & Marcus review the first edition of the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin, discussing their prediction results, surprises, and takeaways from the event.