For 50 years, I’ve avoided wearing anything resembling formal tennis kit but in a rather lame way, I’ve been seduced by the current tenniscore fashion movement. Although tennis is my only sport, I’ve never owned whites, but a rather fabulous white – actually ecru – tennis ‘skort’ has arrived in the post. I only just prevented myself from adding a V-neck white sweater with navy trim to the order. Now I’ve just got to get on the court for the first time this year and stop with the shopping. Sadly, there is absolutely no resemblance at all between how I look in this hybrid of shorts and skirt to the gorgeous Zendaya, female star of the new Luca Guadagnino film Challengers. And it’s not only Zendaya in her little tennis dresses who hits the spot. Josh O’Connor and Mike Faist, the two male leads, drip with testosterone-laden sensuality. They bring a whole new level of attraction to the game. Even though male tennis players are often incredibly good-looking, Guadagnino’s stylish direction has upped the level of male racquet candy considerably. Whoever thought huge kit bags could be carried with such insouciant swagger? Whoever thought a slow build-up to a serve could look so sexy?
Not only does Challengers feature a great wardrobe but it has also got a fabulous electronic music soundtrack which chimes with my current obsession: the new Pet Shop Boys album Nonetheless. It’s a concise ten-song gem. It’s good enough in its own right for Neil Tennant (one half of the Pet Shop duo) not to have to feel it necessary to criticise the success of Taylor Swift in a recent interview for never producing a hit single.
Comments
Join the debate for just £1 a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just £1 a monthAlready a subscriber? Log in