Challengers may be the first tennis movie that really takes us onto the court. When racket connects with ball it’s as if an Exocet missile has been fired. Every contact between ball and court is explosive, as director, Luca Guadagnino pumps up the volume and pushes us back into our seats. Sweat doesn’t drip from the players – it cascades. Previous tennis films, such as 2021’s King Richard, seem limp in comparison.