Challengers and ‘Zendaya bounce’ lift tennis as Wimbledon nears

Top-flight tennis has received a “Zendaya bounce” in popularity in the weeks before Wimbledon thanks to the success of her Challengers film, according to a former British No 1.

Anne Keothavong, who captains Britain’s team in the Billie Jean King Cup, said she had seen a rise in interest in the sport thanks to the Dune star’s racy romantic drama about a tennis love triangle.

She was speaking at the All England Tennis Club, where the Wimbledon championships start on July 1. The club said there had been a 60 per cent increase in online sales of tennis athleisure wear compared with last year, and a 30 per cent increase in the shop, which it put down to the “tennis core” trend.

Zendaya, 27, has made appearances at tennis tournaments

VALERY HACHE/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Retailers around the