As a professional tennis journalist, I must write about Serena Williams’ honest movie review of “Challengers.”
Serena Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam champion known for her ruthless self-assessment in post-match press conferences, has extended her critical eye to the silver screen. In a recent review of the tennis-themed movie “Challengers,” Serena offered both praise and some specific criticisms.
“Challengers” star and co-producer Zendaya revealed that Serena had watched the movie and provided her with an honest review. Serena commended the film as “great” and praised Zendaya’s performance, particularly considering Zendaya’s lack of tennis experience before the project.
However, Serena did not hold back when she noticed the use of CGI tennis balls in some scenes. She immediately pointed out the inauthenticity to Zendaya, emphasizing the importance of real tennis balls for authenticity.
Zendaya, inspired by tennis legends like the Williams Sisters and Roger Federer, trained rigorously with coach Brad Gilbert to prepare for her role in “Challengers.” Serena’s praise of her performance as ex-champion Tashi was especially gratifying for Zendaya.
Zendaya admitted that the intense training for the film gave her a newfound respect for professional tennis players and the daily physical and mental challenges they face. She acknowledged the physical demands of tennis and expressed admiration for the dedication required to excel in the sport.
Despite the positive feedback from Serena, Zendaya is still awaiting feedback from Venus Williams and expressed interest in hearing the former No. 1’s opinion on “Challengers.”
Overall, Serena’s review of “Challengers” reflects her high standards and attention to detail, both on and off the court.
