Game, set, and match. To no one’s surprise, my favorite tennis player, Zendaya, is ~serving~ fierce, on-theme statement looks for all the Challengers premieres and photocalls. The actress plays a former tennis star-turned-coach in her upcoming film, and we’re all well-aware that she’s an unbeatable fashion athlete IRL. Actually thank goodness she’s a co-chair of the “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion” Met Gala (T-1 month until then, everyone remain calm.)
In Challengers, Zendaya’s character has her husband compete against her ex-boyfriend in a challenger tennis event, and there’s a lot of sexual tension in the preview. Pretty much everyone and their mother is eagerly awaiting this spicy sports movie, which you can see in theaters on April 26. Fortunately, we have the queen’s epic tennis girl chic fits to keep us fed until then. As a seasoned tennis expert, undeniable leader in the fashion world, and Shake It Up stan, I feel super qualified to give you my official ranking of Zendaya’s Challengers looks.
5. The Paris Premiere Dress
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This woman is incapable of not looking stunning, but this isn’t my fave Challengers look. Although the flowy white dress is elegant, I don’t think it’s doing much for her. Plus, I’m missing an in-your-face tennis reference.
4. The Hotel Crillon Paris Photocall Suit
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You can tell from Zendaya’s poses that she was really feeling herself in this green satin suit — as she should’ve been. She managed to pull off comfortable, sophisticated, and tennis-themed at the same time. This fit is only second-to-last because it’s pretty safe and not the most exciting compared to some of her other slays from this athletic era.
3. The Maison de l’Amerique Latine Paris Photocall Checker-Pattern Moment
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We stan a Zendaya x Louis Vuitton moment, of course. This checkered mini dress is a gorgeous combo of preppy, surprising and instantly iconic. It’s giving on-her-(tennis)-game.
2. The Hotel Hassler Rome Photocall Dress
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Uggghhh, this plunging silver tennis dress is to die for. (Queue the Addison Rae song.) If I didn’t know who Zendaya was and you told me that this was a photo of a tennis player, I’d believe it. A little commotion for the tennis ball heels!!
1.The Australian Premiere Dress
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ARE YOU ACTUALLY KIDDING ME? My jaw dropped. I think I shed a tear. This sparkly gown featuring a thigh slit and a literal tennis player is obviously her best Challengers look, and I think it’s one of my favorite dresses I’ve ever seen on a red carpet. Zendaya’s matching heels and green eye shadow… just perfection.
Ilana Frost is an entertainment writer at Betches. As a teenage girl in her twenties, she spends her time stanning Olivia Rodrigo, baking cakes for award shows, and refusing to ever leave her Reputation era.
