Zendaya and Serena Williams‘ bond is getting stronger with each passing day. The actress, who will be starring in a movie based on tennis titled ‘Challengers’, has openly expressed her admiration for tennis legend Williams once again. Zendaya has taken inspiration from Williams for her role in the film, where she plays a tennis star. However, Zendaya’s reasons for admiring and respecting Williams go beyond her sporting prowess.

In a respectful gesture, while talking to the media on the sidelines of her film’s premiere, Zendaya candidly showered Williams with adulation and acknowledged her impact, which, according to her, is not just limited to tennis alone.

Zendaya confesses her love for Serena Williams

Interacting with the media on the red carpet of the premiere of her film yesterday, Zendaya talked to Access Hollywood’s Scott Evans and told him about her candid conversation after her recent exclusive with Vogue. She says that she wanted to say, “I love you” to the tennis legend and thank her for her impact on the lives of countless young black girls.

Talking about the importance of Williams’ representation for the community, Zendaya says, “I just wanted to be able to tell her, first of all, I love you, and thank you for all you represent for so many of us who have watched her career. I think not just in tennis, but in the world and what she has represented for so many young Black girls.”

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Zendaya plays the role of a tennis prodigy named Tashi Duncan who is followed through her transition from a player to a coach. For the preparation, the actress practiced with legendary coach Brad Gilbert and took advice from Williams, who also owns a production house. Notably, Zendaya too is a producer on her film, “Challengers”

23-time Grand Slam winner Williams and actress Zendaya can both now be called tennis filmmakers. Which is a term that’s hardly shared by anyone else except these two at the moment. The growing similarities don’t end there, Zendaya, just like Williams, has also gone through the pressures of childhood stardom, owing to which she recently even asked the tennis legend to be her mentor.

‘Ask someone else’ – Serena Williams to Zendaya

While on a phone call for a dual Vogue and British Vogue cover story, The two struck a up conversation that was mostly centered around the pressures of beginning their careers as children. “I have complicated feelings about kids and fame and being in the public eye, or being a child actor. We’ve seen a lot of cases of it being detrimental” says Zendaya.

The actress started her career when she was just 14 in Disney Channel’s Shake it Up. The actor points out that being the breadwinner for her family at such a young age deprived her of the ability to enjoy her wins, and limited her scope for dabbling in other fields and taking up other interests.

Williams chimes in, pointing out that she had to explore these options much later in life by going to design school and opening her venture capital firm. Zendaya then goes on to ask for some advice from the 43-year-old tennis legend but Williams quips, “Ask someone else”. The actress then asks Williams to be her mentor, “I think I need more mentors and community and people around.”

Maybe the whole film was just a ruse for the two to be able to create a lasting bond. ‘Challengers’, which is credited as a provocative comedy, will hit theaters on April 26.