Is Challengers Movie Based On A True Story? Facts About The Tennis Events Portrayed

The tennis drama "Challengers," directed by Luca Guadagnino, is hitting theatres this week after being postponed due to last year's WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. The film, featuring a high-profile cast, promises to impress audiences, especially with early reviews suggesting it is worth the wait. In "Challengers," Zendaya stars as Tashi Duncan, a professional tennis player, while Mike Faist from "West Side Story" plays her husband, Art, a tennis champion on a losing streak.

Storyline Of Challengers

This is a game about winning the points that matter. #ChallengersMovie only in theaters Friday. pic.twitter.com/ltxEBCLKTL

¡ª Challengers (@challengersmov) April 20, 2024

The plot thickens when Art's attempt at a career comeback involves competing against his former best friend and Tashi's ex-boyfriend, Patrick, played by Josh O'Connor from "The Crown." This matchup in the Challengers tennis tournament reignites old rivalries and stirs up past tensions.

The film is described by Guadagnino as his "first comedy," telling IndieWire that it's "a fairly fizzy, sexy movie about the world of tennis."

But Wait, Is The Movie Based On True Story?

Still Of Steamy Scenes In Challengers/X

While "Challengers" isn't based on a true story, the screenplay was inspired by real-life tennis events. Screenwriter Justin Kuristzkes shared with RadioTimes.com that the idea came to him while watching the controversial US Open final in 2018 between Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.

"There was this really controversial call towards the end of the match where Serena Williams was penalised for receiving coaching from the sidelines," he explained. This incident, which involved a rule unknown to Kuristzkes, seemed highly cinematic to him.

Though the characters in "Challengers" are fictional, Kuristzkes drew inspiration from various real-life tennis stories and personalities, including from Andre Agassi's autobiography "Open," which he found particularly enlightening about the personal struggles of athletes.

Zendaya prepared rigorously for her role, training for three months with former tennis professional Brad Gilbert to ensure her portrayal was authentic. According to Guadagnino, Zendaya's performance was so convincing that they barely needed to use her stunt double.

"Challengers" is set to release in UK cinemas on Friday, April 26, 2024.