The best tennis movies according to MelBet

Sports movies are a special part of cinema. The betting company MelBet RSA presents 5 tennis-themed films, some of which are based on true stories.

Wimbledon

Year: 2004

Genre: Romantic comedy

Director: Richard Loncraine

Starring: Paul Bettany, Kirsten Dunst, James McAvoy

The movie’s title speaks for itself. The London district of Wimbledon is known for the famous grass-court tennis tournament, but the film with the same name will appeal not only to sports fans.

Director Richard Loncraine was likely inspired by the story of famous tennis player Goran Ivanišević, who made a stunning win at Wimbledon in 2001. Almost 25 years ago, he got into the grass-court major thanks to a wild card—a special invitation that bypasses the usual rules—and became champion while ranked 125th in the ATP rankings. Either way, in 2004, a movie was released whose main character’s story bears a striking resemblance to that of the Croatian athlete.

In Wimbledon, the sports theme naturally fades into the background, while the passionate romance between rising tennis superstar Lizzie Bradbury and Peter Colt—a long-time washed-up player planning to compete in his last competition—takes center stage. Alongside professional actors, former world number ones Chris Evert and John McEnroe also appear in the flick, playing commentators—essentially playing themselves. The on-screen tennis players were trained by Australian Pat Cash, the 1987 Wimbledon champion.

Borg vs McEnroe

Year: 2017

Genre: Biographical

Director: Janus Metz Pedersen

Starring: Sverrir Gudnason, Shia LaBeouf, Stellan Skarsgård

The rivalry between Björn Borg and John McEnroe in the late 1970s and early 1980s was so iconic that it became the basis for a feature film many years later. Now, McEnroe is a calm, gray-haired retiree and a top commentator for Grand Slam competitions. But during his playing career, the American was known not only for his skilled shots but also for his fiery temper. Broken rackets, bad language, shouting, and fights with referees—all helped John turn tennis into a real show.

On the other side of the net was Björn Borg—a complete opposite to his North American rival: calm, reserved, and balanced. There couldn’t be better characters to show the battle of two different styles. The picture focuses on the legendary 1980 Wimbledon final, which stretched to 5 sets and unfolded with a complex storyline. That match, 45 years ago, is considered one of the most exciting in tennis history. Interestingly, after retiring, Borg and McEnroe became close friends.

King Richard

Year: 2021

Genre: Biographical, sports drama

Director: Reinaldo Marcus Green

Starring: Will Smith

Don’t think this movie is about the English king. It’s the opposite: the main character is Richard Williams, an ordinary American and the father of the famous tennis players, the Williams sisters. Will Smith’s character not only put his heart and all his money into his daughters’ development, but also turned out to be a great predictor. He said the prophetic words: “Venus will become the world’s number one, and Serena will be the greatest tennis player in history.”

Match Point

Year: 2005

Genre: Thriller

Director: Woody Allen

Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Emily Mortimer

For a modest coach, tennis became his ticket to high society. In the story, the main character struggles to manage his relationships with women and is torn between his rich wife and a beautiful lover. Woody Allen’s Match Point has a strong philosophical meaning: only this film genius could put deep meaning into a simple touch of the tennis ball hitting the net.  

Break Point

Year: 2023–2024

Genre: Documentary drama

Director: Martin Webb

Starring: Nick Kyrgios, Taylor Fritz, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and others

Break Point is a Netflix series made together with the ATP and WTA. Each episode of the 2 seasons tells a separate story from the behind-the-scenes life of players during Grand Slam tournaments. 

The global brand picked the top five tennis movies but didn’t share their plots to keep your interest as high as possible. To feel unforgettable excitement from tennis betting, visit the MelBet website or app!