By Benjamen Judd

TOP DROPS: Challengers Serves A Strong Case For Tennis-Inspired Style

COME ON!

The praise that director Luca Guadagnino is getting for his innuendo-heavy, psuedo-psychosexual tennis dramady Challengers (honestly, I’ve seen it twice now and I’m still not sure how to categorise it) is rightly deserved. The slick, video game-like intensity of the film backed by a throbbing nightclub-adjacent soundtrack sucks you in. But sitting beneath the noise, the sweat and the intensities of three very hot, very entangled friends and lovers is the quiet achiever of tennis fashion.

Starring Zendaya, The Crown’s Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist as the most world’s competitive throuple ever, Challengers is an ode to the subtleties of luxury that occurs both on and off the court. Cartier bracelets, Uniqlo polos and shorts, ON tennis sneakers and the softest of cashmere knits curated by Loewe creative director Jonathan Anderson, Challengers had the chic sharpness of a fashion editorial.

There’s a reason why Wimbledon has some of the best street style–unlike other sports where you can come and go during the game, tennis requires long periods of sitting. So being comfortable is paramount. Especially if you’re lucky enough to attend a legendary long-haul match.

Premium cottons and technical materials, movement-focused fits preferred by both players and punters makes tennis the OG athleisure aesthetic. With a few flash add-ons for flair, naturally.