Zendaya, who played Tashi Donaldson in Challengers, suffered a knee injury during the match, which forced her out of the game and led her to embrace a new role as her husband’s coach.
Challengers is an upcoming American Romantic comedy film written by Justin Kuritzkes and directed by Luca Guadagnino.
The movie will release on April 26, 2024, and stars Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist in the leading roles.
Moreover, the story revolves around a Grand Slam tennis champion who signs up to compete in a challenger event.
But there’s a twist: He’ll be facing off against his former best friend and wife’s former lover.
What Happened To Tashi Donaldson In Challengers?
In the movie Challengers, Tashi Donaldson, portrayed by Zendaya, is a former tennis player who suffers a knee injury during the match.
The knee injury happened mid-match, when Tashi was at the peak of her career.
Further, she was once ranked among the world’s most talented female tennis players.
However, after the injury, she gave up her playing career and focused on coaching her husband, Art Donaldson, to take her place in the industry.
‘CHALLENGERS’ press begins this week. pic.twitter.com/zmtTi6HAPW
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) March 25, 2024
As a coach, Tashi is very determined to train her husband to achieve his true potential and carry on with her legacy.
Moreover, the film revolves around their complex relationships and the dramatic tennis match that unfolds when Art faces off against his former best friend.
Zendaya’s Role And Challengers Movie Plot
In Challengers, Zendaya portrays Tashi Donaldson, a former tennis prodigy who has transitioned into a coach.
She makes no apologies for her game and brings her unwavering determination to every aspect of her life.
Moreover, Tashi is a complex and driven character, a force of nature unafraid to take risks on and off the court.
Zendaya, Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor for the “CHALLENGERS” press.
It has begun ✨. pic.twitter.com/QWxNhluUNA
— Challengers News (@challengersnews) March 26, 2024
The film revolves around a Grand Slam tennis champion, Art Donaldson, played by Mike Faist, who is struggling with a losing streak.
As the champion’s wife and coach, Tashi devises a strategy for her husband’s redemption.
She signs him up for a Challenger event, which is akin to the lowest professional competition tier.
During the event, her husband must face off against his former bestfriend, Patrick, played by Josh O’Connor.
Similarly, Patrick also happens to be Tashi’s former boyfriend.
Tashi must grapple with difficult choices as her past and present collide and tensions run high.
Additional Information
- Challengers is not based on a true story. It aims to provide a realistic depiction of the world of professional Tennis.
- The actors underwent extensive training with professional athletes to ensure accurate portrayals of tennis players.
- Zendaya trained for three months with former tennis pro Brad Gilbert to make her work realistic in the film.
- Challengers was scheduled to release on September 15, 2023. However, it was delayed until April 26, 2024, primarily due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
