Challengers: A Love Triangle Served with Raw Emotional Tennis Drama

The opening shot of Challengers lingers on a tennis ball bouncing between two rackets, a metaphor that Luca Guadagnino doesn’t let go of for nearly two and a half hours. This is a film about the serve-and-volley of love, ambition, and betrayal, where every match is a stand-in for the emotional games played by its trio of protagonists.

The premise is simple: Tashi (Zendaya), an injured former tennis prodigy turned coach, signs her husband Art (Mike Faist) up for a low-stakes Challenger event to shake him out of his slump. The twist? His opponent is Patrick (Josh O’Connor), Tashi’s ex-boyfriend and Art’s former best friend. What follows is a time-shifting drama that jumps between 2006, 2007, 2010, and 2011, unspooling the tangled history of this love triangle.

Guadagnino, known for his sensual, visually sumptuous films like Call Me by Your Name, brings his signature style to the tennis court. The matches are shot with a kinetic energy that makes even the most mundane rallies feel like life-or-death struggles. Sayombhu Mukdeeprom’s cinematography is a standout, using tight close-ups and fluid tracking shots to immerse us in the sweat and tension of the game. One particularly striking sequence during the New Rochelle final uses slow-motion and split-screen to juxtapose the players’ movements with their emotional states, a technical flourish that elevates the film’s visual language.

The performances are where Challengers truly shines. Zendaya is magnetic as Tashi, balancing vulnerability and ruthlessness with ease. Her chemistry with both Faist and O’Connor crackles on screen, making their tangled relationships feel palpably real. Zendaya’s portrayal of Tashi is a masterclass in subtle physical acting; the way she carries herself changes dramatically depending on who she’s interacting with—confident and commanding with Art, playful and teasing with Patrick, guarded and defensive when alone. This nuanced performance anchors the film, providing a emotional core that grounds the more extravagant elements of Guadagnino’s direction.

Faist, in particular, delivers a standout performance as Art, capturing the swagger and insecurity of a man teetering on the edge of greatness. His physical transformation throughout the film—from a lanky teenager to a muscular professional athlete—is impressive, but it’s his ability to convey Art’s inner turmoil that truly stands out. In one particularly powerful scene, Faist portrays Art’s post-match meltdown with raw intensity, his voice cracking as he screams into a pillow. It’s a moment that underscores the film’s exploration of masculinity and vulnerability.

O’Connor, meanwhile, brings a quiet intensity to Patrick, his character’s simmering resentment and longing bubbling just beneath the surface. O’Connor’s performance is understated but powerful, particularly in scenes where Patrick grapples with his feelings for Tashi and his complicated friendship with Art. One standout moment comes during a tense conversation between Patrick and Tashi, where O’Connor’s delivery of a single line—”I just wanted you to be happy”—speaks volumes about the character’s unresolved emotions.

But for all its strengths, Challengers stumbles in its pacing and structure. The time jumps, while initially intriguing, begin to feel gimmicky as the film progresses. Some transitions are so abrupt that they disrupt the narrative flow, making it difficult to stay invested in the emotional beats. Additionally, the film’s runtime could use some trimming; certain scenes linger too long on metaphor and symbolism at the expense of forward momentum.

The script, written by Justin Kuritzkes, is ambitious but uneven. It tackles themes of love, ambition, and the price of success with a heavy hand at times, resorting to exposition-heavy dialogue that feels more like a screenwriting exercise than natural conversation. The film’s exploration of gender dynamics in sports is compelling, particularly in its portrayal of Tashi’s struggle to be taken seriously as a coach in a male-dominated world. However, these insights are sometimes buried under layers of melodrama.

That said, the film’s emotional core is undeniable. The love triangle at its heart is messy and complicated, mirroring the push-and-pull of a tennis match. The final act, set during the New Rochelle Challenger event, delivers a satisfying payoff, with each character forced to confront their desires and shortcomings head-on.

Challengers is not just a film about tennis; it’s a film about passion in all its forms—romantic, competitive, and creative. Guadagnino’s direction is unmistakable, infusing every frame with a sense of longing and intensity that permeates the air like the smell of freshly cut grass on a summer day. The film’s use of music is particularly noteworthy; the score, which won Best Original Score at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards, enhances the emotional beats without overpowering them.

The film also benefits from its commitment to authenticity. Zendaya, O’Connor, and Faist trained for months with former tennis player and coach Brad Gilbert to prepare for their roles, and it shows. The actors move with the grace and precision of seasoned players, adding a layer of credibility to the on-court action.

Challengers is a film that will resonate most strongly with audiences who appreciate complex character studies and are willing to engage with its thematic depth. It’s not a crowd-pleaser in the traditional sense; there are no easy answers or neat resolutions here. Instead, it’s a provocative exploration of the human condition, wrapped in the guise of a sports drama.

In the end, Challengers is a flawed but fascinating film, one that takes risks and mostly pays off. It’s a testament to the power of strong performances and bold direction, even when the script stumbles.