Zendaya wanted to impress Venus and Serena Williams with her tennis skills in 'Challengers'

To prepare for the role, Zendaya trained intensively and drew the “biggest inspiration” from the Williams sisters.

Zendaya on April 16, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. Photo: GILBERT FLORES/VARIETY VIA GETTY

Zendaya says she was eager to make a good impression on tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams with her performance in the upcoming film, "Challengers".  

The movie, set for release on April 26th, delves into the world of professional tennis.

During an appearance on Good Morning America, Zendaya said that her primary knowledge of tennis came from watching the Williams sisters dominate the sport. "They were my biggest inspiration," she noted.


The actress was nervous about the sisters watching the movie, acknowledging the difficulty of convincingly portraying an elite tennis player.  "It's hard to fake it," she admitted.

Despite the nerves, Zendaya was thrilled to hear positive feedback from Serena after a screening. Serena acknowledged that Zendaya had never played tennis before, making her performance all the more impressive.

Zendaya was surprised and honoured when Venus attended the Los Angeles premiere of "Challengers," but still awaits a review from her on the tennis scene.

To prepare for the role, Zendaya trained intensively. Despite the challenges of mastering such a complex sport, she was determined to give a convincing performance.
 

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