Luca Guadagnino’s film “Challengers” offers a number of compelling elements, with the captivating game of tennis emerging as the most alluring aspect. Written by Justin Kuritzkes, the film follows Tashi (Zendaya), a talented young tennis player poised for stardom. A triumphant match brings her to an afterparty where her longtime best friends and doubles partners, Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor), commend her skills. This leads to the emergence of a complex love triangle, culminating in Tashi dating Patrick, and then marrying Art to become his coach following a career-ending injury. When Art experiences difficulties, Tashi enters him in a “Challengers” event, a smaller tournament that offers the opportunity to qualify for grand events such as the U.S. Open, setting the stage for a fateful reunion with estranged friend Patrick. The enthralling tennis scenes in “Challengers” comprise Tashi’s game, the joy experienced by Art and Patrick playing together as teenagers, and the tension-fuelled match at the Challengers event, evoking brilliant cinematic moments. Tennis acts as a vehicle for the characters to express complex emotions non-verbally, enabling them to communicate. The foundational idea for “Challengers” stems from Kuritzkes’s burgeoning interest in tennis, sparked by the 2018 U.S. Open match between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka. This prompted Kuritzkes to recognise the potential of a tennis match inspiring an incredible movie. According to Kuritzkes, “A tennis match is an artificial container for the chaos and drama of life. When I was writing it, I realized the structure of a three-set tennis match is very much the structure of a movie.” To realise Kuritzkes’s vision, director Luca Guadagnino sought actors with a basic understanding of tennis, enlisting former top 10 ranking tennis player and ESPN analyst Brad Gilbert as a tennis consultant to train the cast. Moreover, Kuritzkes ensured that each character’s tennis playing style conveyed their personalities, adding depth to their portrayal. The attention to detail was paramount, with Gilbert drawing inspiration from real players and rigorously scrutinising every tennis point in the script before filming. The tennis scenes were meticulously brought to life on set, in adherence to Kuritzkes and Gilbert’s vision. The tennis featured in “Challengers” transcends mere sport. It emerges as the ultimate form of connection for the characters, highlighting themes of sex, romance, and intimacy. The court becomes a space where the characters truly know and understand each other, revealing their most open, intuitive, and intimate selves. “Challengers” offers a compelling narrative centered around the enthralling backdrop of tennis, showcasing an enthralling world of passion, secrets, and complex relationships. The seemingly simple game on the surface evolves into a powerful means of communication and connection for the characters, delivering thrilling and emotionally charged cinematic moments.
The Passionate World of Challengers: Tennis, Secrets, and Romance
