Zendaya helps 'Challengers' net top spot in N.America box office

"This is a strong opening for a romance and sports drama," said analyst David A. Gross, crediting Zendaya's star power and the directorial talents of Luca Guadagnino (he of "Call Me By Your Name"). "This is the right material with the right director, featuring the right star at the right time," Gross said. Zendaya plays a tennis prodigy who retires after an injury, then later helps her husband (Mike Faist) prepare for a key match against a player (Josh O'Connor) who, awkwardly enough, is both her former lover and his onetime best friend.