Challengers ending explained: Who wins the match between Josh O'Connor and Mike Faist—what does it really mean for Zendaya?

The ending of Luca Guadagnino's Challengers showcases the ambiguity in victory and highlights the complexity of relationships.

Challengers ending explained

The thrilling climax of Challengers takes place during a riveting tennis match between Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O'Connor), with Tashi (Zendaya) observing from the sidelines. The match between the two ex-friends will decide numerous aspects of their lives at once, and everything depends on it. Luca Guadagnino directs Challengers which stars Zendaya, Mike Faist, and Josh O'Connor, all of whom infuse their roles with dazzling drama. Much of the acclaim for the film stems from its satisfying climax. The finale fully engages when it reveals Patrick's loss was intentional.

Patrick's intentional loss

Despite his initial reservations, Patrick eventually agrees when he and Tashi have an intimate encounter in Challengers. A schism had been developing between the two long-time friends when Patrick requested Tashi to quit her job as Art's tennis coach. Even though she declines, Tashi warns Art that she will leave him if he loses the match. As time runs out in the game, Patrick tells Art that he and Tashi slept together, which adds fuel to the fire. The romantic sports drama from this year ends when Art hugs Patrick and makes personal contact with him, going over the net just as the screen goes dark.

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It appeared like Art might have won the final match in Challengers but with Guadagnino's ending, it's difficult to tell. Even though viewers saw Art take the last shot of the film, umpire David Hanzes declared a tie in the championship match. Despite the conclusion, the match was far from over. Despite Art hitting the ball before touching Patrick, Hanzes says one cannot go over into the other player's side while the point is in play. Plus, your opponent is out of reach.

At the end of Challengers Art had already lost the point and was therefore not victorious. It was still early in the game, so anything could have happened to propel either friend to victory. There will never be an answer as to whether Art won or whether they both lost the match, but the finale of Challengers gives the impression that Art and Patrick have reconciled and moved on with their friendship. The film's denouement serves as an emotional culmination for the story and the relationships at its core, rather than focussing on the tennis match itself.

The uncertain match outcome

According to Challengers writer Justin Kuritzkes, the film's climax was flawless since neither character claimed a tennis triumph. According to him, the outcome of the match in the film was totally irrelevant to the overall plot. The finale was about the personalities and messages they were sending each other through tennis, not the sport itself, Kuritzkes saw. He explained that they can only really get to each other when they're playing—there are so many things they want to say, understand, or recognize about each other. Tashi merely desired a friendly game of tennis. By the end, he feels as though they are playing out of the blue.

For different reasons, Art and Patrick were very invested in the final tennis match. Art aspired to win the match and defeat Tashi, enabling him to officially retire at the US Open, while Patrick wanted Tashi to support him, as he had asked her to coach him in tennis and advised him to lose intentionally. However, Art and Patrick parted ways for an extended period following Tashi's tennis injury.

However, Patrick confided in Art as if they were old friends once more, reigniting their long-lost feelings of friendship and realising that Tashi's gravitational pull was pulling them in opposite directions. The Challengers match, which was based on actual events, probably brought back fond memories of their tennis days together before they met Tashi. However, after Patrick was open about his relationship with Tashi, Art was able to step back and see what he had missed in their connection. Art likely came to the realisation that he could win Patrick over while also mending fences with him.

Characters' motivations

Art, who had been previously exhausted by the sport, felt a renewed zest for victory after receiving confirmation about Patrick and Tashi's relationship. He and Patrick reverted to their teenage selves, jostling with each other and vying for Tashi's attention. After spending so much time apart and going through so much trouble, Art and Patrick likely wanted to forget their past. All of that washed away the rage in Challengers thanks to the tennis, Tashi's presence, and the high stakes of the match.

Tennis is a sport that Tashi Duncan has adored for as long as she can remember. She probably feels incomplete without the sport since she has poured so much of herself into it. Tashi shouts "Come on!" in the first match, and Art and Patrick see her do it in their Challengers match at the end. Tashi yells this out whenever she's engrossed in the tennis action. After all, she had to go without watching decent tennis before.

Up until this point, Tashi hadn't found Art and Patrick's gameplay to be very interesting or difficult. By the end of Challengers though, Tashi had gotten emotionally immersed in the match; her cries of "Come on!" demonstrated her devotion to the game and the potential it had when both players were playing at their absolute best. At last, she was getting the high-stakes match she had been craving from Art and Patrick—a match that would reawaken her passion for tennis.

Trio's emotional journey

When it comes to his friendship with Patrick, Tashi, and Art, no one is a victim. Indeed, Art's self-serving actions in college when he questioned Patrick and Tashi's relationship depth did nothing to improve the situation. But after sensing manipulation, Patrick decided to inform Art the same way he had exposed his infidelity with Tashi while in college: that he and Tashi had slept together. Certainly, Patrick wasn't acting out of genuine concern for Art or remorse for what had transpired; otherwise, he would have also informed him about their encounter in Atlanta.

The revelation in the fantastic drama film drove Patrick to madness. Perhaps Patrick's true motivation was to win the game so he could persuade Tashi to take over coaching duties from her husband. Everything changes when Art finds out that Tashi cheated on him. Art may decide to end their relationship now that he knows the truth, since Tashi had threatened to leave him if he didn't win. Given that Art made amends with Patrick, it's plausible that he will remain regardless.

Tashi has been Art's tennis coach throughout their relationship, encouraging him, believing in him, and providing him with the tools she believed he needed to succeed. Challengers' massive ad highlights their status as a tennis power couple. Tashi wanted Art to win, not just to boost his self-esteem before the US Open, but also to spare herself the shame of seeing him lose.

Luca Guadagnino's Oscar contender portrays Tashi as a tennis prodigy who, in a sense, lived vicariously through Art's tennis career. More than anything else, tennis was her life's work. It would have an impact on Tashi's standing and reputation if Art wasn't the greatest tennis player. She prodded him so that they would both appear attractive. Since Art was never exceptional at tennis, Tashi felt less affection for him.

Because Art's tennis career was so important to her, she regarded it more as a companion than a lover. Tennis was her greatest joy in life, which is why Tashi purposefully pushed Patrick to lose; she wanted Art to have a chance to win the US Open and possibly continue playing tennis instead of retiring. That's how much she cared about the sport. If Art had lost interest in tennis, Tashi would have preferred that he not compete in Challengers.

Speculation on the trio's relationship

The Challengers' finale sets the stage for a shift in the trio's dynamics and future, as Art and Patrick appear to be on the path to reconciliation following their embrace at the end of their match. It is quite improbable that Art and Patrick will freeze out Tashi following the match, with Art taking the lead due to Tashi's adultery. On the tennis court, they depend more on her than she does. As a result, the intricate love triangle in Challengers probably won't finish when the film does.

Instead, Art and Patrick may become friends again, and Art may stop playing tennis because Tashi will coach Patrick. Putting the past behind them may allow them to move on without further psychological or physical manipulation. Tashi might still leave Art to collaborate with Patrick, but it could be a fresh start for both of them since she was forthright with him about her declining interest. Art could now relax and enjoy retirement without worrying about tennis. On the other hand, he may have just been more competitive after the match.

Challengers omits a post-credits sequence that suggests what happens next, even though there are countless possible outcomes for the protagonists. It is reasonable to omit the post-credits scene from a film of this kind. Furthermore, the tennis movie leaves viewers wondering whether the three main characters' toxic, convoluted relationship will cease, grow stronger, or transform into something else entirely after it ends.

Potentially changing the course of events for all three characters, the Challengers love triangle was a major factor in the film's climax. Everyone leaves the film with a slightly different understanding of what happened, whether it's in the discussion of who will win the battle, if Art and Patrick have actually made up, or what their future holds with Tashi. This is because the finale is intentionally vague. 

According to Josh O'Connor, who spoke with EW, the trio's reunion is key to the Challengers finale. By the film's conclusion, they've finally tracked each other down. They're all making terrible mistakes trying to satisfy that hunger for each other. They're all seeking direction in their own unique ways.

On the other hand, Mike Faist thinks it's wonderful that the ending makes people feel so many different things, no matter who they are or how they perceive the match and its most intense moments. The actor said that there are valid points made by all parties. This movie is intriguing because it will evoke strong and passionate feelings in viewers. The fact that audiences are thinking about the show long after it has ended fills him with excitement.

Guadagnino's vision for the ending

Part of what makes Challengers captivating is that Guadagnino has his own thoughts about the film's ending. The finale and the characters' destinies can leave anyone with a distinct impression. The filmmaker describes the characters in the film as reenacting, for 13 years, the possibility of returning to that hotel room to relive that beautiful moment of burgeoning desires and innocence in their final moments, which are complex and full of significance. Once again, the triangle sat in the same spot, this time on the court, as the rivalry escalated to a new and intense level.

In his film, Guadagnino explores the complexities of friendships and love relationships within the context of professional sports. All three of the protagonists—Tashi, Art, and Patrick—take tennis very seriously in "Challengers," but by the conclusion of the film, it becomes apparent that the off-court activities and competitions have greatly damaged their relationship.

Challengers prompts viewers to contemplate the durability of relationships in such a demanding setting, given their frequent swaying and transformation throughout the film. In the end, the profound love for tennis seems to triumph over all, justifying the sacrifice of relationships as the film delves into issues of social class, competitiveness, opportunity, and prestige.

Inspiration from Roger Federer and Mirka Federer

A portion of the inspiration for the film came from professional tennis star Roger Federer and his wife, Mirka Federer, according to writer Kuritzkes' interview with GQ. He detailed his observation of the camera repeatedly panning to Mirka in the stands as he watched Federer take on Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon in 2019. She appeared quite anxious during the entire match, according to the screenwriter. Kuritzkes couldn't help but wonder, "Why are you so worried?" as he observed her. They both possess an infinite amount of wealth and have won 20 Grand Slams.

Kuritzkes proceeded to do some investigating and found out that Mirka had been a promising tennis player when she was younger. Similar to Zendaya's character in Challengers a foot ailment forced her into an early retirement. According to Kuritzkes, Mirka sort of became Federer's manager and managed his life. He credits Mirka for many of his achievements. In Challengers, one can easily see parallels between Roger and Mirka Federer's tennis careers and those of Tashi and Art.

You can stream Challengers on Prime Video.

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