Zendaya gained a deeper appreciation for tennis while filming her upcoming film Challengers. It was courtesy of the shoot that she understood the plight of tennis players, especially Coco Gauff. Talking about her love for the US Open champion, Zendaya revealed how she had previously followed Gauff, but a sense of empathy only emerged through the acting journey in the Luca Guadagnino film.

Gauff found success at the age of 16, long before most tennis stars even enter the WTA Tour. Finding stardom at a young age, Zendaya felt that she found herself in the 20-year-old. Tracy Austin asked her about the kind of inspiration she finds in Gauff and Zendaya said, “Many things. But also, she’s so young and I guess I relate to her as I started very young in this industry.

The Euphoria star began her acting career with Shake It Up when she was 14 years old. Since then, she has been a public figure, developing empathy for Gauff. “I guess I relate to the idea of pressure and having all eyes on you, but in many ways I can’t imagine the shoes that she has to walk in as a tennis player and a professional athlete.”

She acknowledges the difference in pressure between an actor and an athlete while still being able to put herself in the shoes of Gauff. Zendaya further talked about how she felt filming a fake match for the film. “I remember when we were shooting our tennis stuff at the Billie Jean King. I was absolutely terrified, and I was just pretending. You know, I remember feeling nervous and like sweating.”

She further explained, “And I wasn’t actually playing; there was no stake. So, I can only imagine it, and I’m so impressed by her composure, strength, and poise. Like I said, she’s so young, and so I think when I see young people in the public space, I feel particularly protective.”

Zendaya’s praise for Gauff will likely increase her love for the actor even more. She will likely have a hilarious reaction to the segment, as she did during Zendaya’s comment on the LA Red Carpet.

Coco Gauff ‘screaming’ in bed as Zendaya wants to meet her

During the Challengers screening, Zendaya was asked whether there is a tennis player who inspires her. The 27-year-old actress, who trained under Gauff’s coach, Brad Gilbert, responded, “I love Coco. I haven’t met her yet, but I sure hope so. Brad is her coach, so I’m like, ‘I want to meet her!’’ After learning that Zendaya wanted to meet her, Gauff took to Instagram to share her fangirl moment. 

The world number 3 said, “SCREAMING IN MY BED RN ILY TOO @zendaya ahhhh” Gauff was overjoyed after receiving generous praise from Zendaya. Not only did the young WTA sensation post her reaction on Instagram, but she also shared it on Twitter. Zendaya has gained all the favor she could in the eyes of Gauff and will likely gain more after her recent comments reach the 20-year-old.