There’s passion on and off the court in the romantic drama Challengers, directed by Oscar nominee Luca Guadagnino (Call Me by Your Name). Two-time Emmy winner Zendaya (Euphoria) stars as Tashi Duncan, a teenage tennis prodigy whose career is on the verge of taking off. The action picks up in 2006 with Tashi letting her hair down and enjoying herself at an Adidas party after an impressive win. Best friends and fellow tennis players Art (Mike Faist, West Side Story) and Patrick (Emmy winner Josh O’ Connor, The Crown) are also at the party, and it’s obvious they’re both attracted to Tashi.
Finally, the two guys gather the courage to talk to Tashi, complimenting her amazing skills. The trio dives into a discussion about tennis and reveal their interpretations of the sport.
Tashi teases that she might swing by their hotel room later, and they’re surprised when she actually accepts their invitation to hang out and talk. Tashi smiles and flirts but insists she is not a “homewrecker” and wouldn’t want to break up a friendship. Still, she asks them to join her on the bed and in a steamy moment, starts making out with both Art and Patrick simultaneously. The two men are at a loss for words when they open their eyes and see that they have unknowingly kissed each other, while Tashi looks on, smiling. Before leaving, Tashi promises she’ll give her number to whoever wins the tennis match the following day.
The film jumps forward to 2019 and Tashi, now Art’s wife and coach, struggles to get him out of his recent losing streak. She books him to play a challenger event – close to the lowest level on the pro tour – hoping to boost his ego and energy. However, Tashi is surprised and concerned when she discovers that Patrick, now a down-on-his-luck, burned-out tennis player, is also part of the tournament.
A flashback to 2006 reveals that Patrick defeated Art and won Tashi’s number. The two quickly became lovers, which ruined Art and Patrick’s friendship. The film makes multiple leaps back and forth in time, showing how throughout the years Patrick and Art remained emotionally tied to Tashi and how she’s been able to manipulate and control them.
Challengers is a sweaty, stylish, exceptionally well-acted film about three people who are passionate about tennis. It’s a love triangle, but about the sport, not the relationships.
Zendaya delivers her best performance so far as Tashi, the young tennis prodigy whose career is cut short way too early because of an injury. Tashi’s a smart, determined woman who will do almost anything to remain a part of the sport she no longer dominates. Zendaya plays her as a woman who understands the mind games she’s playing on the two men who’ve remained obsessed with her for years. She has sizzling chemistry with Faist and O’Connor and commands the screen every scene she’s in with them.
Mike Faist delivers a layered performance as Art, a fairly decent guy and solid tennis player who in 2006 was driven by passion to break up Patrick and Tashi and make her his own. Later in 2019, he’s deeply worried he’ll lose her when they both accept the fact that his tennis days are behind him. Faist also has wonderful chemistry with O’ Connor as Art and Patrick go from best friends to rivals and eventually hostile competitors on the court.
Josh O’Connor is incredibly effective as Patrick, the burned-out tennis player who never took his relationship with Tashi seriously enough, but deep down has a real passion for his former lover. Patrick knows Tashi better than she knows herself and loves to push her buttons. And O’Connor delivers the most natural and authentic performance in the film.
The tennis matches are well choreographed, but director Luca Guadagnino ruins the tension and rhythm of many of the sports scenes by overusing slow-motion so much that it becomes tedious and annoying. Another problem with the film is the non-linear storytelling that reveals the history of Tashi, Art, and Patrick’s relationship. It’s initially effective but becomes distracting.
Still, with captivating performances by Zendaya, Faist, and O’Connor, Challengers is a sports drama/romance film that serves up some energetic entertainment.
GRADE: B
MPAA Rating: R for some sexual content, language throughout, and graphic nudity
Release Date: April 26, 2024
Running Time: 2 hours 11 minutes
Studio: MGM