Paula Badosa criticizes Challengers movie for portrayal of athletes - "I don't see Nadal and Alcaraz fighting like that"

Although several movie critics had a positive reaction the the recent Challengers movie, Spanish tennis star Paula Badosa was not a fan, stating the film did not give an accurate portrayal of athletes.

Challengers is a tennis-themed movie which stars Zendaya as a retired tennis professional who is trying to lift her tennis-player husband into superstardom. The movie features a love triangle between Zendaya's character, her husband and her lower-ranked tennis-playing ex-boyfriend. The movie culminates with both men clashing on the ATP Challenger Tour.

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Badosa disapproves despite Challenger's commercial success

Although the movie received critical and commercial success, grossing over $50 million domestically, Badosa was not impressed. The former World No.2 revealed she did not understand the film. Furthermore, she admitted to having discussed the movie with tennis colleagues, stating most of them shared her viewpoint and did not understand it as well.

"I saw it (Challengers) and I didn't understand anything," said Badosa in an interview with Elle magazine. "I even talked about it with other colleagues and they told me the same thing."

Furthermore, Badosa was adamant that the movie did not give an accurate portrayal of the professional tennis circuit, and she believes it was catered to an American teenage audience. The Spanish star stated the animosity between the two male characters was greatly exaggerated, as her compatriots Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz would never behave in that fashion.

"i assure you that the circuit is not like that at all, it seemed more like an American teenage movie," opined Badosa. "I don't see Nadal and Alcaraz fighting like that."