Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist were among the stars spotted at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters this weekend, adding a touch of glamour to the prestigious tennis event. The trio, currently filming the much-anticipated Challengersmovie, were in Monaco to enjoy the thrilling semi-final match between Jannik Sinner and Stefanos Tsitsipas. As the sun beamed down on the picturesque Monte-Carlo Country Club, the actors took the opportunity to snap photos on the balcony, offering a stunning backdrop of the Bay of Monaco.
This wasn’t Zendaya’s first time at an ATP Masters 1000 event. Just last month, the actress attended the final at Indian Wells alongside her partner Tom Holland, where they witnessed Carlos Alcaraz’s victory over Daniil Medvedev. This time, she was joined by her Challengers co-stars Faist and O’Connor, who also took in the high-stakes tennis action from the stands.
The semi-final between Sinner, the Australian Open champion, and Tsitsipas, a two-time Monte-Carlo winner, provided plenty of drama on court. But for Zendaya, Faist, and O’Connor, the day was also an opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of tennis—a passion that plays a central role in their upcoming film.
To prepare for their roles in Challengers, the actors underwent intense training with renowned tennis coach Brad Gilbert, who currently works with US Open champion Coco Gauff. According to Gilbert, the preparation wasn’t easy: “Zendaya and Josh (O’Connor) had never played tennis before. Mike (Faist) had played in high school, but he was a 4.0 player.” Despite the challenges, the trio’s dedication to learning the sport helped bring authenticity to their performances in the movie.
Challengers, directed by Luca Guadagnino, is a dark romantic comedy set against the world of tennis. Zendaya plays Tashi, a former tennis prodigy who becomes a coach. Faist stars as Art, a once-promising tennis champion now struggling with a losing streak, while O’Connor portrays Patrick, Tashi’s ex and Art’s former best friend.
Zendaya, who has been traveling the globe on a whirlwind promotional tour, has also made waves with her fashion choices, often referencing tennis culture at events in cities like Sydney and Rome. Her appearance in Monte Carlo was no different, as she and her co-stars rubbed shoulders with an array of celebrities in the stands, including Prince Albert II of Monaco and Formula 1 stars Carlos Sainz, George Russell, and Lando Norris.
For O’Connor, who had no prior tennis experience, the journey has been eye-opening. “I love watching tennis, but I’m not very good on the court,” he confessed. “But I learned a lot filming Challengers. It’s always nice learning a new skill.”
The film promises to be a unique blend of romance, drama, and tennis, and fans can look forward to seeing Zendaya and her talented co-stars in action when Challengers hits theaters worldwide on April 26.
As the stars of Challengers continue to train and hone their skills both on and off the court, they are bringing a new energy to the intersection of sports and cinema, making this one movie release tennis fans won’t want to miss.
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