Maria Sharapova is ‘incredibly happy’ about Zendaya’s new movie Challengers bringing more attention to tennis

She loves the fact that people are paying attention to a tennis-based movie. 

Maria Sharapova is ‘incredibly happy’ about Zendaya’s new movie Challengers bringing more attention to tennis

Maria Sharapova, Zendaya (Images via X, Imago)

The tennis fraternity are loving the tennis-centric romantic thriller movie Challengers starring Zendaya, Josh O’Connor, and Mike Faist. Though critics have given mixed reactions to the movie, current and former tennis players, including Maria Sharapova, are happy. 

Sharapova made her fourth appearance at the Met Gala, wearing a light green dress, which was, however, not inspired by tennis balls. During an interview with Town and Country, Sharapova talked about her bright-colored dress and Challengers. She loves the fact that people are paying attention to a tennis-based movie. 

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Anything that brings more excitement and attention to tennis makes me incredibly happy. To see it weave through art, entertainment, and culture is wonderful. 
Maria Sharapova said

In Challengers, Tashi is a tennis player turned coach. She helps her husband Art to become a world-class player but, makes him play a challenger event where he faces Patrick who is Art’s ex-best friend and Tashi’s ex-boyfriend. 

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Maria Sharapova’s dress is made of organic cotton  

This year’s Met Gala’s theme was The Garden of Time, which is a 1962 novel by JD Ballard. Maria Sharapova‘s dress is inspired by the ‘Sleeping Beauty’ fairytale and on social media, many commented that she looked like a princess of a fairytale. 

Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova (Image via Imago)

The stunning dress was designed by Prabal Gurung who used cotton fabrics from the Boll & Branch brand. It was also the first time a bedding brand’s products were used for the Met Gala. Gurung revealed he used organic cotton for the first time for the event, and he wanted to blend the ideas of Sleeping Beauty with the theme of the event. 

Prabal has designed such beautiful pieces for the Met Gala in previous years, so it felt like a very natural choice and very much in theme with this year's Met Gala, which is all about reawakening and flowers and forest. 
Maria Sharapova told Town and Country 

The former World No. 1 also said that though she prefers natural tones for everyday life, she found it interesting to explore different colors. Apart from her, Serena Williams and Venus Williams also attended the event. 

The Met Gala takes place every first Monday in May, and it is held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. It was first organized in 1946. 

Talking about Sharapova’s career, she turned pro in 2001 and announced her retirement in 2020. She reached the top of the rankings in 2005 and has five Grand Slam singles titles to her name (two Roland Garros, one French Open, one Wimbledon, and one US Open). 

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