Hollywood star Zendaya has risen to the top of her game not only as an actress, but as a singer and dancer, too.
But although it’s easy to imagine there’s nothing that the awardwinning 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.
“So sometimes I would come in and I’m like: ‘Yeah, I got this, okay,’ like something clicked. And then you come in the next day and you
can’t re-create it. And you’re like:‘Damn! Back to square one.’
“And they’re feeding me balls, right? So once I asked: ‘I want to see what it feels like to return the serve. Hit me a real one.’ The way that thing flew by me so fast!
“At the time, I still had glasses. I’ve since had laser eye surgery, but when I was filming, I couldn’t even see the dang thing. So at some point, I realised: ‘Okay, my approach has to be different because whatever this is, it isn’t working.’”
Zendaya eventually got into her comfort zone by viewing the sport’s movements as choreography, something that came naturally from her dancing background.
“I said to myself: ‘I’m a dancer, so let me dance this thing out,’ and I began to focus on that. That became my entry into looking like a tennis pl
