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Zendaya Makes a Deeply Emotional Confession to Tracy Austin About Her Newfound Love for Tennis

Published 04/22/2024, 5:31 AM EDT

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In the world of entertainment, tennis is about to serve up more than just thrilling matches and fierce competition. Beyond the courts, actress Zendaya is prepared to portray the soul of tennis difficulties on film. In an insightful conversation with tennis icon Tracy Austin, Zendaya illuminates the sport’s deep meaning and influence that go beyond just athletic ability.

Renowned actor Zendaya (from “Dune”) plays tennis player Tashi Duncan in the upcoming film “Challengers.” Her character Tashi, professional-tennis-player-turned-coach, takes on the task of helping her boyfriend Art become a professional player. Recently, the Spider-Man actress sat down with the 61-year-old former American tennis player along with her cast to talk about the sport and the vision Luca Guadagnino had while making the movie.

When asked about what made her get involved with a tennis themed movie, Zendaya stated, “Well, the script is brilliant. And I think what Justin does so well is, tennis is often used as a metaphor for a lot of different things—in life, in relationships, power.”

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Zendaya clarified the complex nature of tennis in her words during her interview with Tracy Austin. She underlined that tennis is a complex form of expression that calls for ability and dedication, not just a sport. The 27-year-old emphasized the difficulties in learning the game of tennis, pointing out that although players show perseverance and dedication, the game is not simple.

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Further, she added, “And I think also just the prospect or the idea of having to take on a massive challenge. I mean, I speak for all three of us, where you know tennis is not what we do for a living, and it’s not something like you can just pick up. It’s not an easy sport unless you have been training since you were like 4 years old, you know, good luck.”

Not only that, but even the American actress received praise from the 23-time Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams herself.

Zendaya talks about receiving compliments from Serena Williams

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Just a few days ago, Zendaya reflected back on her meeting with the 43-year-old tennis legend, she said that even though there were no genuine tennis balls present when the video was shot, the tennis icon nonetheless recognized the sincerity of her performance. She stated, “I know there definitely weren’t real (tennis) balls. She knows. She’s the best of the best. She did say that it was great considering that I had never, never touched a tennis ball before.”

The American actress was quite happy with how Serena was impressed with her portrayal, particularly given that she had never played tennis before. In addition, she also issued a preemptive apology to Venus and Serena Williams for any misrepresentations about her tennis abilities. Nevertheless, what are your thoughts on Zendaya playing the role of a tennis player? Do let us know in the comment section below.

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Written by:

Pratishtha Prakash

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Pratishtha Prakash, tennis writer and resident analyst at EssentiallySports isn't just a sports journalist; she's a storyteller who found her true calling in tennis content. It is something she seamlessly integrates into both her professional and personal realms. Having professional certifications in content and digital marketing, Pratishtha has made it a habit to hone her skills as a quality journalist.
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Edited by:

Deepanshi Bajaj