GETTING ACE REVIEWS AGAIN ZENDAYA ON HOW SHE SMASHED HER NEW ROLE IN 'CHALLENGERS'
HELLO! UK|May 06, 2024
Hollywood star Zendaya has risen to the top of her game not only as an actress, but as a singer and dancer, too.
GETTING ACE REVIEWS AGAIN ZENDAYA ON HOW SHE SMASHED HER NEW ROLE IN 'CHALLENGERS'

But although it's easy to imagine there's nothing that the award winning all-rounder can't ace, playing tennis for her new role in the film Challengers almost got the better of her.

Even with the guidance of elite tennis coach Brad Gilbert, who worked with Grand Slam champions Andre Agassi and Andy Roddick, the 27-year-old star only had six weeks to learn how to convincingly portray tennis prodigy turned coach Tashi Donaldson.

"I had no idea about tennis," she says, speaking in Los Angeles. "I knew nothing. All I really knew of tennis was Venus and Serena [Williams]. It was terrifying as a challenge to take on because you know you're supposed to be a great tennis player and I've never been a great tennis player. I was incredibly nervous just showing up.

HAVING A BALL

"I was driving myself crazy trying to become a player. I remember when I first started hitting the ball, it would go off into trees. It was never even close to the court. I was like: 'Damn, I've got a long way to go.' "It's not a game you can just pick up right away. Unless you've been playing it since you were four, it's just not happening for you.

This story is from the May 06, 2024 edition of HELLO! UK.

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This story is from the May 06, 2024 edition of HELLO! UK.

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