Renowned tennis player Naomi Osaka has recently conveyed her appreciation for Zendaya’s most recent film, “Challengers.” The Japanese athlete took to social media to express her enthusiasm for the movie, delighting fans with her recreation of the film’s poster.
In a TikTok video set to the soundtrack of “Challengers,” Osaka can be seen playing tennis in slow motion, capturing the attention of viewers with her effortless style. The clip features a moment reminiscent of the film’s poster, showcasing Zendaya alongside her co-stars Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist.
The video garnered an outpouring of praise from fans, many of whom noted Zendaya’s interactions with prominent black tennis stars as she continues to promote her film. One viewer commented, “Venus being at the premier, Serena showing love, Coco turning into a film reviewer after she saw it and now Naomi?! Z is collecting the tennis It Girls like infinity stones.”
“Challengers” is a captivating sports movie that revolves around the dynamics between tennis players Tashi Duncan (played by Zendaya), Patrick Zweig (O’Connor), and Art Donaldson (Faist). Though the characters are not based on real players, the film’s premise was inspired by a significant real-life event—specifically, the 2018 US Open women’s final between Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka.
According to Business Insider, screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes drew inspiration from Osaka’s triumphant victory over Williams, which was overshadowed by a series of code violations issued to Williams by the umpire. Reflecting on the match, Kuritzkes shared, “Immediately, this struck me as this intensely cinematic situation where you’re all alone on your side of the court and there’s this one other person in this massive tennis stadium who cares as much about what happens to you as you do, but you can’t talk to them… For whatever reason, it just clicked in my mind.”
In light of Osaka’s support for “Challengers,” it is evident that the film has resonated with tennis enthusiasts and movie aficionados alike. As more fans eagerly await the release of Zendaya’s latest project, it is heartening to see esteemed athletes like Naomi Osaka celebrating the intersection of cinematic storytelling and the world of sports.