This tennis season has been nothing short of spectacular, keeping fans glued with thrilling matches and unforgettable moments on the courts. But let’s not forget the buzz off the court, which has been equally electrifying! One such off-court highlight came back in April when Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, starring none other than the sensational Zendaya, took the tennis and entertainment world by storm. With its bold portrayal of tennis, the movie has sparked plenty of conversations. And now, joining the chorus is none other than Naomi Osaka, whose perspective might be a little different from what legendary Serena Williams believes about the movie.
The Japanese tennis sensation, who wrapped up her year early after facing a back injury is enjoying a much-deserved break season. But she is not keeping herself away from intriguing activities. Her latest activity? An insightful review of the movie Challengers. Osaka traded her racquet for a pen as she penned down her perspective for the movie published on December 12 in Entertainment Weekly.
Expressing her admiration for the movie, Osaka shared how relatable it was for her. “Tashi’s passion and ambition for the game was very relatable. She wanted so badly to win, as I and so many others on tour do. I empathized when she went through her injury and wanted to rush her recovery (we’ve all been there!),” she wrote. Continuing further, she highlighted the aspects of coach-to-player relations and the challenges faced by the players in their everyday lives as depicted in the movie and revealed how the entire movie captured her attention.
“There are characteristics of Tashi, Art, and Patrick in most professional tennis players. At the end of the day, they are all highly competitive and complex individuals who want to win at any cost, and that’s a trait that all tennis players need in order to compete at the highest level. The film captured the essence of tennis as a sport through its authentic representation, diverse characters, and innovative storytelling,” the Japanese star concluded. Interestingly, while Osaka seems to have liked the movie in its entirety, Serena Williams, whom Osaka looks upon as her icon, expressed some skepticism previously.
Take a closer look at @Zendaya‘s character, Tashi Duncan, in #ChallengersMovie in this all-new featurette. See the film only in theaters April 26. pic.twitter.com/QGMNq3kret
— Challengers (@challengersmov) April 1, 2024
In June this year, the tennis great sat down to dissect her opinion about the movie. While she expressed how intriguing it was, she highlighted her inability to understand the conclusion of the movie. “I actually felt like there was so much accuracy in there about things that we don’t think about as tennis players or even talk about as tennis players,” Williams said initially per Vanity Fair. However, she also expressed her reservations and added, “I wanted there to be more of an ending. I told Zendaya: ‘Listen, is there more? Like, I want more. Did they win?’” But it seems like Osaka has a different stance for the movie. And interestingly, this is not the first time when the star player has made such a statement for the movie.
“I thought it was interesting. I also feel like it’s very cool because people are talking about the movie a lot obviously. It’s bringing attention to tennis,” Naomi Osaka said previously. But even though Serena Williams failed to understand the ending, she was quick to make a remarkable comparison with the aspects highlighted in the movie.
“I wasn’t like Tashi” – When Serena Williams made honest comparison with Zendaya’s Challengers
Serena Williams ruled the tennis courts for over two decades and amassed 23 Grand Slams under her arsenal. She was seen as one of the toughest players on tour and Williams justified time and again. However, when she watched Zendaya’s Challengers, where the actress donned the role of Tashi Donaldson, Williams was quick to draw a comparison.
Reflecting on the protagonist Serena Williams mentioned that she was, “pretty tough to take.” “Tashi was just mean, for lack of a better word. But it’s true that when you’re really competitive, you have to make tough decisions, including in your dating life. You have to find someone who really understands your mind,” Williams highlighted. She also made a comparison of herself with Tashi’s character and said, “I wasn’t like Tashi, but I was definitely tough at that stage in my life.”
While Williams and Osaka’s take are relatively different, one thing is clear: both stars loved the fascinating intersection of sports and storytelling. Will Zendaya respond to the latest comments from Naomi Osaka Well, only time will tell.
The post Serena Williams’ Reservations Didn’t Deter Naomi Osaka as She Offers Refreshing Take on Zendaya’s ‘Challengers’ appeared first on EssentiallySports.
