Hollywood actress Zendaya expresses respect for Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic met Zendaya in the “Prelude to the Olympics” event back in 2024.
It was the summer of 2024, and Paris was gearing up for the Olympics. Amid all the buzz, American actress Zendaya, famous for her role in Spider-Man, met 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at a glitzy pre-Games event that would end up being one of the most talked-about celebrity run-ins of the entire buildup.
The two crossed paths at a “Prelude” gathering hosted at the Fondation Louis Vuitton. They shook hands, chatted briefly, and then Zendaya moved on toward the ceremony.
Even with the pressure of the upcoming Games hanging in the air, Djokovic didn’t miss the chance to tell her how much he liked her performance in the movie “Challengers.”
The night itself drew a fairly eclectic crowd. LVMH’s Bernard Arnault was there, along with Louis Vuitton’s menswear chief Pharrell Williams and Vogue’s Anna Wintour, Charlize Theron, Serena Williams, Rosalía, and Omar Sy.
However, out of everything that happened that evening, it was the brief Zendaya-Djokovic moment that fans couldn’t stop sharing, with clips of the two making the rounds online for days afterwards.
None of this really came out of nowhere, though. Zendaya’s interest in tennis goes back further than that one handshake.
While getting ready to play former junior star Tashi Duncan, she studied Djokovic’s matches to understand his habits, focus, and on-court demeanour.
“I was really starstruck. He’s a legend. I watched many of his tennis matches to prepare for my role in Challengers. I watched him and tried to emulate him. I really like his never-give-up attitude; it’s inspiring. I’m his fan”, Zendaya said, reflecting on her interaction with the Serbian icon.
That curiosity followed her into real life, too: she showed up at the 2024 Monte-Carlo Masters with “Challengers” co-stars Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor to catch a semifinal, and later stopped by Indian Wells to watch Iga Swiatek take on Maria Sakkari in the final.
For his part, Djokovic later spoke well of the film too, saying he appreciated how it captured the sport, demonstrating a nice bit of mutual respect between an actress and an athlete who admire each other’s works, despite their different professions.
What did Zendaya say about Novak Djokovic?
He’s a legend. I watched many of his tennis matches to prepare for my role in Challengers. I watched him and tried to emulate him. I really like his never-give-up attitude; it’s inspiring. I’m his fan”, Zendaya said, reflecting on her interaction with the Serbian icon.
For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram
Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.