Tennis and fashion have always shared a close relationship, and this year, the sport’s stylish moments have reached new levels of attention. While iconic players like Naomi Osaka and Marta Kostyuk have captured headlines with their bold on-court looks, it’s the release of the film *Challengers* that has truly sparked a tennis fashion revolution.
The romantic drama, directed by Luca Guadagnino, blends the world of professional tennis with compelling storytelling, and Zendaya’s portrayal of a retired tennis player-turned-coach has made waves in both the fashion and sports worlds. Sporting a variety of tennis-inspired outfits, Zendaya has become a key figure in what’s being called the “Challengers effect.”
Zendaya, whose popularity continues to soar, has been praised for her personal style in the film and beyond. The actress shared with *Entertainment Weekly* that several tennis players have thanked her for “making tennis cool” again. She laughed it off, saying, “I feel like tennis has always been cool and sexy, but I’ll take it.”
While *Challengers* has received positive reviews for both its cinematic quality and accuracy in depicting the world of tennis, it’s Zendaya’s fashion that’s making an equally strong impact. Styled by Law Roach, Zendaya has been spotted at press events and tennis matches in looks that embrace the growing trend of “tenniscore”—a style that fuses classic tennis gear with everyday fashion.
“I wanted to be literal, I wanted to have this cultural moment and bring tenniscore back to the masses,” Roach told *LA Times*. Zendaya’s wardrobe included everything from a traditional white dress inspired by tennis legend Althea Gibson to a chic Louis Vuitton courtside look. One standout outfit featured a custom Loewe design: a glitzy silver dress paired with stilettos with tennis balls speared through the heels.
The appeal of tenniscore lies in its accessibility. Many of the staples—polo shirts, pleated skirts, and clean white sneakers—are already part of tennis wardrobes and can easily be adapted for everyday wear. Fashion icons like Rene Lacoste and Stan Smith, whose names are synonymous with the sport, originally designed their famous polo shirts and shoes for tennis but have since become global lifestyle symbols.
As the tenniscore trend grows, it’s clear that the impact of *Challengers* extends beyond the big screen. After the film’s release, searches for “adult tennis lessons” spiked 245% worldwide, and “kids tennis classes” jumped by 205%. This surge in interest suggests that tennis fashion will continue to evolve, with more iconic pieces—from Jannik Sinner’s Gucci bags to timeless Adidas sneakers—becoming part of future tennis-inspired looks.
As more luxury brands partner with top tennis stars, the sport’s fashion influence is set to stay. The “Challengers effect” shows that tennis style isn’t just a passing trend; it’s becoming a permanent fixture in the world of fashion.
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