The reviewer saw the film Challengers before a Zoom call with Zendaya for her magazine cover story and was impressed by the talent of the actors, including Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist. Despite some post-production effects with the tennis balls, the actors portrayed the world of tennis with seriousness and dedication to their training. Zendaya’s character Tashi, a former junior tennis player turned coach, was seen as tough and competitive, making tough decisions in her personal life. The love triangle between Tashi, Pat, and Art was messy but served the story well, with Zendaya delivering a captivating performance.
The character of Pat felt real to the reviewer, as they have encountered similar struggling players on the men’s Challengers Tour before advancing to bigger tournaments like the US Open. The challenging lifestyle of tennis players on the tour, living in hostels and sometimes even their cars, was depicted authentically in the film. The reviewer recognized aspects of male tennis players relying on their partners for support, as seen with players like Roger Federer and his wife Mirka. The reviewer also reflected on their own codependency on their sister Venus in the early stages of their tennis career, relating to Art’s dependency on Tashi in the film.
The competitive nature of Tashi’s character and her relationships with Pat and Art resonated with the reviewer, who found Zendaya’s portrayal impressive in capturing the tensions and complexities of the character. The reviewer reflected on their own past competitive approach in relationships and acknowledged the importance of finding someone who understands your mindset in the competitive world of sports. The film’s portrayal of the sacrifices and tough decisions that come with pursuing a career in professional tennis was commended by the reviewer.
The reviewer appreciated the film’s portrayal of the challenging journey of tennis players on the Challenger Tour, highlighting the struggles and sacrifices that players like Art and Pat face in pursuit of their dreams. The authenticity of the film in depicting the realities of the tennis world, including dependence on support systems and the competitive nature of the sport, resonated with the reviewer’s own experiences in the tennis world. Overall, the reviewer found Challengers to be a compelling and authentic portrayal of the competitive world of professional tennis, with impressive performances from the cast, particularly Zendaya, O’Connor, and Faist.
