Zendaya’s new movie focuses on the sport of tennis. Zendaya has always been a very slim young woman, so getting “in shape” wasn’t an issue for her. But while being slim and looking slim are one thing, convincing a movie audience that you’re actually an athletic, top-tier tennis player is quite another. This has left many wondering how Zendaya trained for Challengers.
Well, for starters, she was up for a challenge. Sorry… we live or die by puns. That said, her first passion was learning the game of tennis.
Zendaya studied hard to understand the rules and the essence of tennis. Her character, Tashi, is a former tennis prodigy, so it makes sense that she knows the ins and outs of tennis. Plus, Zendaya is also a tennis coach, which adds to the need for an “expert” level.
And of course, fitness plays a big part. If you’ve ever watched a tennis match, you’ve heard and seen the groans, the screams, the gasps, the sprinting, the heavy breathing. It’s clear that you have to be in shape to play tennis.
How did Zendaya train for her challengers?
So was this just “movie magic”? No. Zendaya had been working on the project for about three months prior to filming. PopSugar Report:
“Three months before filming, the actor was coached by tennis pro Brad Gilbert. Tennis fans will have heard of Gilbert. He was once ranked number four in the world before turning to coaching, and has worked with Andre Agassi, Andy Murray, Coco Gauff.
When Zendaya went from observing to practicing, she worked 12-hour days. She’d finish a tennis session in the morning, go straight to a two-hour gym workout, and then perform in the afternoon, Gilbert said. [Zendaya and her co-stars] “I’ve worked really hard,” he said. “It’s the same as what a tennis player needs to prepare. You have six weeks off-season and you have to work hard to be ready for Australia.”
12 hours?! 2 hours in the gym?! It’s clear that Zendaya takes her acting seriously, and was determined to show that her character was really good at the game.
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