In Tennis, Love Means Zero: “Challengers” Is A Sexy, Sporty Love Triangle Without Much Love
New female manipulator just dropped
I’ll watch anything with Zendaya in it. Even without the genius-level marketing that was the Challengers press tour — complete with those tennis ball Loewe heels — I still would’ve rushed to the theater to watch Challengers. Due to last year’s strike, its delayed release made one thing obvious: anticipation really does make the reward that much sweeter. Challengers finally comes out on Friday, April 26th and after watching an early screening, I can confirm, it’s well worth the wait.
What is Challengers about?
Challengers is about tennis. Challengers is about a love triangle. Challengers is about Zendaya’s bob. Directed by Luca Guadagnino of Call Me By Your Name, it’s no surprise that this movie is also about sex. It follows three young tennis players — two lifelong friends who are rising stars and superstar prodigy Tashi Duncan with whom they are massively enamored — over their messy love lives and careers.
Zendaya leads as Tashi Duncan, the intense and intensely ambitious woman at the center of this story. After a devastating injury, Tashi goes from the top of the game to her husband’s coach, trying to recall what she felt at the height of her career.
Ambition battles desire as the love story between the three twists and turns over the course of time. Shifting between time periods and storylines, it feels like a Christopher Nolan film if it slayed. And with Luca’s expert directorial eye, styling from JW Anderson’s Loewe, and Zendaya as heroine, it’s a cinematic feat — tense, vivid, and utterly irresistible. Zendaya herself recommends watching the movie at least three times while “viewing” it from each character’s perspective each time. Well, what Z says, goes.
Clearly, Mike Faist (Dear Evan Hansen, West Side Story) as Art and Josh O’Connor (The Crown, God’s Own Country) as Patrick have been inducted into the exclusive club of Luca’s muses. If you weren’t in love with them before, you will be by the movie’s end. The film has confirmed them as the white boys of the month. But they’re more than just pretty faces. They are Actors — with a capital A.
And Challengers is their launch pad for Hollywood’s latest leading men. Their performances are masterful, their characters are tight and consistent, and their chemistry is unmatched.
While their chemistry with Zendaya is electric, it’s their chemistry together that keeps the film pulsing with anticipatory tension. Whether they love each other or hate each other, the best scenes are those when Faist and O’Connor can play off each other — whether it’s literally tennis or a battle of wits and the battle for Zendaya’s heart.
Of course: we have to talk about that scene. Teased in the trailer and the promo images alike, everyone is all aflutter over the film’s alleged menage a trois. Appearing early on, it’s a taste of what the film does well: emphasizes sex appeal without denigrating any of its characters — especially Zendaya — as mere sexual objects.
Sex in this film is often implied. Yet, sensuality and the power exchange of desire are foregrounded. It’s about power. But it’s also a game. And, like tennis, Zendaya is a master. “You don’t know what tennis is,” she tells Art and Patrick. “It’s a relationship.” For the three of them, this certainly proves true. The central question here is: who will win?
This is a movie about tennis, actually.
The internet has noticed a strange trend: the women who’ve played Spiderman’s love interest in the major Spiderman franchises have all gone on to do movies about tennis. Kirsten Dunst did the underrated rom-com Wimbledon. Emma Stone portrayed Billie Jean King in Battle of the Sexes just three years after her term as Gwen Stacey. And now, Zendaya is playing her own version of a tennis star.
@jessthereporter The Spider-Man to Tennis pipeline - EXPLAINED #spiderman #challengers #zendaya #emmastone #kirstendunst #movienews #movietok ♬ original sound - Jess Lucero❤️🔥☕️
But this isn’t just a film about tennis players. It’s a movie deeply in love with the game of tennis itself. It plays with the form of the game by mirroring a tennis match — each act of the film feels like a set of a match. It moves through scenes and time periods like perfect volleys. The key scene that ties it all together is a tennis match. We watch the ball go back and forth as we are transported to and from the past, wondering which player will get the upper hand.
“What do you want?” The boys ask Tashi early in the film. “To watch some good fucking tennis,” she says.
In the end, the sentiment is repeated. In tennis, love means zero. And that’s the Challengers’ conceit. Sitting across from the umpire (who is — fun fact — played by her real-life assistant Darnell Appling) in the central tennis scene, her judgment is all. It’s like the final scene of Love and Basketball — they’re playing for her heart. And her heart is always with the game.
Challengers will make a tennis fan of you. While you don’t need to know the game in order to follow the plot, its artistic representation of the game — from the writing to the directorial shot list — will satisfy the superfans and intrigue the newbies.
Let’s get to the point (pun intended): Is Zendaya’s Tashi a triumph?
Earlier this year, Timothee Chalamet achieved the impressive feat of starring in two of the year’s highest-grossing films — Dune: Part Two and Wonka. I predict that by the time they stop this weekend’s Box Office count, Zendaya will achieve the same feat with Dune: Part Two and Challengers.
While she’s the heart of Dune: Part Two, she’s finally taking her rightful place as a leading lady with her turn as Tashi Duncan. After playing high schoolers for decades from Spider-Man to Euphoria, the role of Tashi is the perfect transition. We meet Tashi the summer after high school, before she heads to Stanford, and watch her grow into an adult in real-time. Zendaya and her character get similar arcs.
Zendaya deftly handles Tashi’s youthful confidence with her jaded older self while rocking that damn bob. It’s up to you to decide whether you love this character or despise her. There’s a viral interview in which an interviewer remarks that as much as he loves Zendaya, this character kind of made him hate her. Meanwhile, I — lover of maneaters and female manipulators — am pinning photos of Tashi to my vision board as we speak.
Audiences are split on their takes on Tashi but everyone agrees: Zendaya played her with the chill-inducing complexity she deserves. EGOT soon! This is Zendaya’s magnum opus — so far. She’s proven she’s a movie star, a leading lady, and an adult woman ready to play older roles. I can’t wait for what she does next.
Challengers will hit theaters on Friday, April 26th. Watch the full trailer here:
But now, you've replayed the album sufficiently and you're ready for new music. I know, we're all insatiable when it comes to streaming new tracks. It's why fans of other artists are lamenting that their faves don't release as often as Swift. If, say, Billie Eilish or Harry Styles started releasing more frequently alongside Swift, we'd have a lot of work to do...my playlists would grow endless.
Every Friday, I like to compile a list of the hottest new hits released that day so you know which songs to listen to. Whether you're heading into the weekend ready to party, or need to get some spring cleaning done and need a soundtrack...there's a song on my Weekend Playlist for everyone.
And yes...our playlists are now available on Spotify! So all you need to do is press play and let the music take you away from your laptops and into your weekend.
So, without further ado, let's get listening!
Chris Lake, Sammy Virji, Nathan Nicholson- "Summertime Blues"
We are no strangers to the technical genius of Chris Lake here at Popdust. He has the power to hop on collaboration tracks and make a hit...which is exactly what happens in "Summertime Blues." An instant house classic that will smoothly transition you from spring to summer.
Every warm weather season needs its essential techno house track, and it looks like we already have it. "Summertime Blues" transcends the listener to a club somewhere far away, maybe in Ibiza. It's an instant classic- bouncy, sunny, heavy on the bass. A perfect blend of Virji, Lake, and Nicholson. Chef's kiss.
R3HAB, Jason Derulo- "Animal"
Jason Derulo and R3HAB team up for the ultimate collaboration: "Animal." With Derulo's smooth vocals and R3HAB's production talent, you'll be playing this song over and over. If you want a song with sexy lyrics, Jason Derulo's famed voice, and R3HAB's ability to meld any track into gold, this one is for you.
This is the fourth collaboration for the now iconic duo, and it shows. "Animal" is a product of two powerhouses in their respective genres who know how to make a hit. Combining sounds isn't always easy, but R3HAB and Derulo make you think it is.
Mabel- "Vitamins"
Mabel delivers a hard-hitting R&B track with "Vitamins." Perhaps my favorite song on the playlist this week, Mabel reminds you that she'll be good for you. It's reminiscent of R&B greats like Mary J. Blige and Ashanti, with all the soulful vocals and heartfelt passion that only Mabel can convey in her music. It's easy listening, a slow burn that keeps shining from start to finish. About the track she says,
“This is my family and friends' favorite song out of all the music I’ve made over the past couple of years. It's a reminder to the man I love to take care of himself but also that in difficult times I’ll always be there in his corner. I dedicate the record to my uncle David Cherry who passed during the making of this song. He was a musician and I felt him guiding me musically during the session, to be braver and bolder with my songwriting.”
The Scarlet Opera- "Catch Me If You Can"
The Scarlet Opera delivers an empowering symphony of guitar and keys with "Catch Me If You Can." It's your dose of rock-and-roll combined with a mixture of badass lyricism, an intoxicating chorus, and a whole lot of infectious melodies. The Scarlet Opera's message is that they have their stuff figured out, and they're not letting anyone stop them.
"We don't really believe in revenge, but we do believe in epic destiny. We're fortunate that those who have and continue to doubt us, hold little space in our hearts-- this record will act as a constant reminder that we're in control. Catch us if you can!"
Justice, Tame Impala- "Neverender"
A Tame Impala track is essential for warm weather. Teaming up with the all-encompassing French touch DJ, Justice, the duo delivers a solid track in "Neverender." Upbeat, well-paced, and catchy, this song will get you through the weekend seamlessly.
If you want to check out our playlists, listen on our Spotify below!
Listen To The Playlist On Spotify!
Since the release of her massive debut album Innocent Eyes in 2003, Delta Goodrem has remained one of Australia's most popular entertainers. She's scored several number one hits in her home country, starred in popular shows, and served as a coach on the Australian version of The Voice. American audiences may recognize Goodrem from the 2023 Netflix movie Love Is in the Air.
She's recently returned to the recording studio, although she's not revealing plans for a new album yet. Her latest single "Hearts On The Run," is an upbeat celebration of living life to the fullest. The song is gaining momentum in the UK, and she recently performed it on Australian Idol.
Watch Goodrem talk to Jordan Edwards and Demi Ramos about recording new music, her acting career, and looking to the future.
Delta Goodrem | It's Real with Jordan and Demi
For more from Delta Goodrem, follow her on Instagram and TikTok.
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