Zendaya received high praise from tennis star Serena Williams for her tennis skills in the movie Challengers. Williams noted that despite Zendaya having never touched a tennis ball before, her performance was great. Williams also acknowledged the magic of filmmaking, recognizing that not all the tennis scenes used real balls. Venus Williams has yet to see the film, but Zendaya expressed hope that she would also approve of her abilities.
During the Los Angeles premiere of Challengers, Zendaya was starstruck by the presence of Venus Williams. Zendaya admitted to being nervous about Venus seeing her tennis skills in the film, especially since Serena had already seen and approved of the movie. To pay tribute to the tennis greats, Zendaya recreated their looks from an iconic 1998 Vogue shoot where Serena and Venus were both featured in matching Carolina Herrera gowns and white beads in their hair. Zendaya stunned in the same Carolina Herrera dress and beaded wig by Kim Kimble.
Challengers follows the story of Tashi Duncan, portrayed by Zendaya, who finds herself in a love triangle with her ex and her husband. After Tashi’s husband experiences an injury, she helps transform him into a Grand Slam champion and enters him into a tournament where he faces off against her ex. Ahead of filming, Zendaya trained for months for the role. Director Luca Guadagnino praised her performance, mentioning that they almost didn’t need a stunt double for the tennis scenes because Zendaya was so good.
Zendaya expressed excitement about taking on more mature roles like Tashi in Challengers, indicating a desire to push herself as an actress. She emphasized the importance of finding roles that challenge her as she grows older and moves beyond playing teenage characters. Challengers is set to hit theaters on Friday, April 26, and Zendaya seems proud of her work in the film based on the positive reception from Serena Williams and others involved in the project.
In addition to her tennis skills in Challengers, Zendaya also showcased her fashion sense by replicating iconic looks from a Vogue shoot featuring Serena and Venus Williams. This attention to detail and dedication to the role indicate Zendaya’s commitment to delivering a compelling performance in the film. The positive feedback from Serena Williams and director Luca Guadagnino further validates Zendaya’s talent and hard work in preparing for the role of Tashi in Challengers. With the film slated for release in April, audiences can look forward to seeing Zendaya’s performance in this new and challenging role.
