The Actual Tennis in 'Challengers' Is Kind of a Serve

Luca Guadagnino's film "Challengers" showcases actors Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O’Connor as tennis players, earning praise for their realistic portrayal of the sport. Tennis stars and commentators like Coco Gauff and Tracy Austin commend their performances, noting their natural athletic forms and specific tennis archetypes.

The film intricately blends real tennis elements with fictional narratives, avoiding direct comparisons to current tennis legends to enhance the credibility of its characters' achievements in the sport. The actors' training with professionals like Brad Gilbert helped them convincingly depict tennis techniques and on-court intensity, contributing to the film's authenticity and dynamic tennis scenes.