The Challengers Effect

Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers, featuring Zendaya as Tashi Duncan, Mike Faist as Art Donaldson, and Josh O’Connor as Patrick Zweig, transforms the painted lines of a mere tennis court into an intense display of raw undeniable passion.

Tashi Duncan, a previously celebrated tennis prodigy turned coach, finds herself at the center of a love triangle when she choreographs a match between Art, her husband and mentee, and Patrick, her ex-boyfriend. As the match unfolds, so do unresolved tensions and emotional attachments, blurring the lines between love, competition, and obsession. 

To describe her previous tennis match, Tashi said, “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” (33:19).

One against one with a drive to win ultimately turned to one with another by Guadagnino. 

Sarah Manavis, New Statement Rotten Tomatoes critic, said “Challengers is much more than a sport movie… But it would be wrong to say that this story isn’t about what tennis does to normal people: the ways it binds them inextricably to one another.” 

The discussion of tennis evolves into a competition of affection. After uncovering the obvious attraction both Art and Patrick have for Tashi, their tennis match transforms into a fierce battle for her admiration. Art and Patrick, previously lovers and now competitors, face off in a tennis match that pushes their commitment to Tashi to the ultimate test: each other.

Despite Patrick and Tashi’s current relationship, Art questioned Tashi, “I mean, who wouldn’t be in love with you?” (58:18).

Between the rackets of every match, of every winner, there is a loser, and within every trophy, there is an obsession. Guadagnino’s portrayal of unrequited love redefines the strength of passion. 

After her match at Stanford, Tashis’ commitment is taken to the test when she tears her ACL and is left comforted by Art, rather than her boyfriend Patrick. Fast forward 10 years, Tashi and Art are married with one kid. 

The day before the Challenger match, Patrick spoke to Tashi, “[Your husband is] ready to be dead, and you’re starting to realize you might not want to be buried with him. ‘Cause who is he to you, if he’s not playing tennis?” (1:24:25).

Guadagnino allows his audience to question whether devotion can exist without a challenge. What drives a player to defeat another, simultaneously is what drives a partner to love another. 

A film review on tennis.com wrote, “According to an analysis of Google search data conducted by Venture Smarter, queries for “adult tennis lessons” have skyrocketed 245 percent worldwide—that’s over three times the average search volume—since the release of Challengers on April 26.” 

Whether this film was just about tennis, or more, it managed to show the audience the potential of a goal. 

Art commented, “Tell me it doesn’t matter if I dont win tomorrow.” (1:38:33). In response Tashi replied,“If you don’t win tomorrow, I’ll leave you” (1:41:21).

Commitment consumed by primal hunger for victory reveals the fragility of love when challenged with obsession. 

In terms of true competition and relationships, Guadagnino reveals that neither can exist without desire.