To jolt him out of his recent losing streak, a tennis prodigy turned coach makes her world-famous Grand Slam champion husband play in the New Rochelle Challenger. Her strategy takes a surprising turn when he has to face off against his former best friend, who also happens to be her ex-boyfriend. As their pasts and presents collide, and tensions run high, she must ask herself, what will it cost to win? A film by Luca Guadagnino, starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist.

In 2006, childhood best friends since boarding school and current students at the Mark Rebellato Tennis Academy, Patrick Zweig (Josh O’Connor) and Art Donaldson (Mike Faist), win the boy’s junior doubles title at the US Open. Later, they talk about tomorrow’s match where Art will face Patrick, whose tennis skills are undeniably superior. Art pleads with Patrick not to completely crush him on the court, to which Patrick replies that he’d let Art win if it meant that much to him. To Art’s surprise, Patrick seems more excited about winning the doubles trophy than the singles title. Patrick reveals that playing tennis with Art was just different – it was fun.

Attending a junior singles match, Patrick and Art discuss the upcoming Adidas party on Long Island. Art, however, reveals he’s not planning to go. Patrick is surprised because Tashi Duncan (Zendaya), the winner of the Junior Australian Open who they both find appealing, will be there. In fact, Patrick considers her the hottest woman he’s ever seen. Before Art can respond, they’re both stunned to see Tashi enter the court, where she proceeds to win the match against Anna Mueller (Emma Davis) in fierce fashion. This unexpected encounter makes Art change his mind, and he decides to join Patrick at the party, hoping to meet Tashi in person.

At the party, Patrick and Art finally get a chance to introduce themselves to Tashi. To their surprise, Tashi says she already knows them, mentioning they’re known as “Fire and Ice.” Art is further surprised that Tashi knew that he is going to Stanford. She reveals that she just accepted their offer and they mentioned his name. Patrick, however, can’t wrap his head around why Tashi would choose college tennis over going pro. Their conversation is interrupted, though, by Tashi’s father who comes to request photos of Tashi with the trophy for the press and sponsors.

After Tashi left, Art and Patrick discuss whether they should stick around for another chance to talk to her again. Patrick dismisses Art’s idea, asserting that it would seem too desperate. Nevertheless, the two never leave even though most of the guests are gone. Tashi reappears, and they invite her to the beach, which she agrees to. At the beach, Tashi tells them that they’re not yet tennis players because they don’t know what tennis really is. When Patrick asks her what tennis is, she replies that tennis is a relationship.

For about 15 seconds there, we were actually playing tennis, and we understood each other completely. So did everyone watching. It was like we were in love. Or like we didn’t exist. We went somewhere really beautiful together.

As the night grows late and Tashi prepares to leave, Patrick asks if she’s on Facebook, which she apparently isn’t. Art explains that Patrick is asking for her phone number, so is he. Tashi responds that she doesn’t want to be a homewrecker between them. Art explains that he and Patrick don’t live together. Patrick invites her to come to their hotel room later since they put her in the same hotel in Flushing as them. Tashi leaves without any commitment, leaving them uncertain about her response.

Later that night, Tashi gives Patrick and Art a surprise visit at their hotel room. Tashi seems genuinely interested in Patrick and Art’s friendship since they exude the impression that they are more like brothers. Patrick reveals that he and Art have been bunkmates since they were 12 years old. Tashi asks how often Patrick and Art go after the same girl, in which Art tells her that he and Patrick usually have different types. Tashi wonders if the two of them ever did it with each other. Art chuckles and refuses. However, Tashi notices Patrick’s facial expression suggesting that there must be something between the two of them. Patrick reveals that he taught Art how to masturbate. Tashi is fascinated and amused by the story and genuinely wants to know more in detail, which Patrick and Art elaborate on.

The conversation takes an unexpected turn, and Tashi begins kissing with Art and Patrick. A three-way kiss ensues, progressing to a point where only Patrick and Art remain kissing while Tashi enjoys watching them. Suddenly, Tashi gets up and announces she’s heading to bed. Patrick and Art persist in asking for Tashi’s phone number. Tashi, once again tells them that she’s not a homewrecker. However, she offers a playful challenge: she’ll be watching their match tomorrow, and the winner gets her number.

Later at the tennis practice court, Art keeps asking Patrick if he and Tashi slept together, implying Patrick won the match, which means he’s been dating Tashi. Patrick tells Art that Tashi made him promise not to tell anyone otherwise she would stop seeing him. Art persists and requests Patrick to do his tennis serving style if Patrick and Tashi slept together. Patrick points out that Art always places the ball in the exact center of the neck of the racket before he throws the ball up. Patrick then serves the ball in Art’s style, revealing that he slept with Tashi without saying it outright.

By 2007, Art has become jealous of Patrick’s relationship with Tashi and suggests to Tashi that Patrick doesn’t really love her, but his effort is unsuccessful. Patrick, who has turned professional and has a long-distance relationship with Tashi, comes to visit Art at Stanford University where Art and Tashi are studying. Art also suggests to Patrick that Tashi doesn’t think about the relationship seriously. To Art’s surprise, Patrick sees through his scheme and playfully teases Art that he’s proud of him as he would be doing the same thing. Patrick is happy and excited to see Art lit up about something.

In the midst of intimacy, Tashi offers Patrick some tennis advice, suggesting his problem is that he always thinks he’s won before the match is over. Patrick and Tashi have a fight about how she sees herself as his coach, not his peer. Patrick leaves and messages Art that he had a big fight with Tashi and won’t be attending her match. During the match, Tashi accidentally suffers a severe knee injury. Patrick returns to see her, but she furiously demands he leave. Art takes her side and asks Patrick to leave as well. Tashi breaks up with Patrick. Art and Patrick’s friendship falls apart, and they haven’t spoken to each other since that day.

Tashi’s recovery is unsuccessful, forcing her to give up her tennis career. Art asks Tashi to be his assistant coach. Initially hesitant, Tashi agrees. Tashi and Art begin their romantic relationship. The two later get married and have a daughter together. Art’s tennis career continues to flourish, culminating in six Grand Slam titles by 2019: two Wimbledon titles, two Australian Opens, and two French Opens, though the US Open title remains elusive.

After recovering from his injury, Art has lost his confidence. Tashi finds herself irritated by Art’s lack of enthusiasm in his recent matches and decides to withdraw him from the Cincinnati Open and considers withdrawing him from the US Open as well. In an attempt to boost Art’s confidence, she puts his name in the New Rochelle Challenger 80, hoping that a nobody on the other side of the net can rebuild his confidence. Meanwhile, in his hometown New York, a struggling professional tennis player Patrick, also enters the New Rochelle Tour, initially unaware that he would finally play against Art.

Challenger 80 refers to a category of ATP Challenger Tour events with a prize money range of $82,000. In the ATP Challenger Tour, tournaments are categorized based on their prize money, with Challenger 80 events offering a specific prize amount. Players competing in Challenger 80 tournaments have the opportunity to earn ranking points and prize money as they strive to progress in their professional tennis careers.

Directed by Italian filmmaker Luca Guadagnino from a screenplay by American playwright Justin Kuritzkes, Challengers is a dramatic love triangle story between two best friends and a tennis prodigy. The filmmaker employs the jumpcut technique to tell the story in a non-chronological timeline, intentionally obscuring predictable plot points.

While I’m not particularly fond of this stylized storytelling when a linear timeline would suffice, I found the origin story, when the three of them were younger, to be much more intriguing than the middle section. However, the final match, presented from a first-person perspective, injects excitement into the narrative with its open-ended conclusion. This memorable twist makes the 127-minute watch worthwhile.

Zendaya shines as Tashi, a fiery and ambitious tennis player with a mysterious agenda. She’s both fiercely independent and emotionally vulnerable. The heart of Challengers lies in the dynamic between Art and his childhood friend Patrick. Their bond is a complex web of unspoken desires and competitive spirit. Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor deliver electric performances, their on-screen chemistry crackling with an undeniable intensity. Every glance, every shared word between them is loaded with unspoken history and simmering tension.

Two particularly impressive shots include the opening scene where the camera flies over the umpire (Darnell Appling) and the tennis court where Art and Patrick are playing, landing beautifully on the sidelines where Tashi watches alongside other spectators. Another noteworthy shot, near the end, dives under the tennis court, offering a unique perspective.

CHALLENGERS premiered in Sydney on 26 March 2024. The film was theatrically released in the United States on 26 April.