Zendaya reveals Serena Williams’ reaction to her work in ‘Challengers’

IANS

Los Angeles, April 21

Actress Zendaya’s performance in the romantic sports comedy film ‘Challengers’ left an impression on Serena Williams.

The 27-year-old actress revealed that the tennis icon, 42, has watched her latest performance as tennis player-turned-coach Tashi Duncan in the upcoming movie and she’s a fan, reports ‘People’ magazine.

Zendaya told ET, “She was like, ‘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 touched a tennis ball before.”

Previously, Zendaya told the outlet that she was “very nervous about her seeing my tennis skills,” and apologised “in advance” to Serena and her sister Venus.

The actress had a fun back-and-forth with Venus on social media earlier in the week, and at the end of the month. She spoke about who specifically inspired her performance in the film, directed by Luca Guadagnino.

Since the film marks Zendaya’s on-screen debut as a mom, she explained that the “mothers in my life and around me” were to thank for the role.

As she explained, she’s even had some practice taking care of kids. “I have many nieces and nephews, so they’re like my borrowed children, you know? I get to have fun and give them back to their parents,” Zendaya said.

“But I’m definitely inspired by how they tackle and take on motherhood.”

Zendaya stars in the romantic sports comedy alongside Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor, with a synopsis noting that the film follows “three players who knew each other when they were teenagers as they compete in a tennis tournament to be the world-famous grand slam winner and reignite old rivalries on and off the court”.

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