GMarsh TV Production for eir Sport - Sam Barry: Beyond The Baseline
BROADCAST DATE: Thursday 1st June at 21:30 on eir Sport 1
SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE is a fascinating observational documentary following international professional tennis player and Limerick native, Sam Barry. The documentary follows this determined 25-year-old on the international tennis tour, taking in countries as varied as Israel, Spain, Qatar, France, and the U.S. as he works towards making his first Grand Slam tennis tournament. We witness first-hand the highs and lows of Sam’s quest to break into the top 200 players in the world with no holds barred.
Filmed and directed by Craig Speer over the course of 2 years, the documentary shines a light on the difficulties of playing on the international tennis circuit, where prize money at tournaments doesn't even cover the costs; the sheer loneliness of trying to find people to practice with daily, training without a coach, while spending his evenings in lonely hotels rooms, booking flights to his next competition, with no one to lend a hand.
A promising Junior, he secured a place in the prestigious Mouratoglou Tennis Academy in Paris. Living away from his family from age 13, Sam was the first Irish tennis player to play all four junior Grand Slams.
For the last 6 years, Sam has spent 45 weeks a year alone on the road, costing up to €90,000 a year for flights, accommodation and equipment - and that’s without a coach. Pure determination keeps him on the court, just one good week could change his life, get him to bigger and better tournaments, one step closer to his first Grand Slam.
Produced by GMarsh TV, with support of the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) for eir Sport, SAM BARRY: BEYOND THE BASELINE is the first Irish tennis documentary that honestly explores the financial, emotional and physical challenges of life on the professional tennis tour.
For further information, please contact:
Director Craig Speer
+353 87 794 4224