Zendaya received praise from tennis champion Serena Williams for her tennis skills in the movie Challengers, despite having never played tennis before. Williams acknowledged the magic of filmmaking and recognized that the tennis scenes were not entirely real. Zendaya was nervous about Venus Williams seeing her performance, but was starstruck when Venus showed up to the Los Angeles premiere of the film.
During the press tour for Challengers, Zendaya paid tribute to Serena and Venus Williams by recreating their iconic 1998 Vogue shoot. Zendaya posed in a Carolina Herrera dress and beaded wig, similar to the look the Williams sisters had worn in the original shoot. The film centers around Tashi Duncan, played by Zendaya, who gets caught in a love triangle with her ex-boyfriend and husband, and focuses on her efforts to transform her husband into a Grand Slam champion.
Zendaya reportedly trained for months ahead of filming Challengers, impressing director Luca Guadagnino with her skills on the court. Guadagnino praised Zendaya for her dedication to the role and revealed that they rarely needed to use a double for her tennis scenes. Zendaya expressed excitement about taking on more mature roles and pushing herself as she grows older, moving away from playing teenage characters.
Challengers hits theaters on April 26, and Zendaya is eager for audiences to see her performance as Tashi. She values the opportunity to challenge herself with new roles and explore different characters as she matures in her career. Serena Williams’ approval of her tennis skills in the film was a meaningful moment for Zendaya, and she hopes that Venus Williams will also be pleased with her performance. The actress is grateful for the chance to portray a complex character like Tashi and is looking forward to audiences experiencing the film.
