"Challengers": Is Tashi Duncan the Villain?
In "Challengers" Tashi Duncan's Not the Villain — She's Just an Ambitious Woman
Image Source: Niko Tavernise© 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This article contains spoilers for "Challengers"
Tashi Duncan, they will never make me hate you. After watching the "Challengers" I left the cinema fixated on Zendaya's portrayal of Duncan, the cut-throat tennis player turned coach who is driven by success. However, as the film rolled out across cinemas, the general consensus building online seems to be that Tashi is manipulative and almost too driven. I couldn't disagree more.
We've all seen how ambitious women are treated in society — they are always seen as "too much" and societal stereotypes mean that men try to bring them down a peg. But to make Tashi out as the sole villain of the film completely undermines the complicated, layered character that appears on screen.
We are first introduced to Duncan as a teenager through the eyes of two doting up-and-coming tennis players, Art Donaldson (Mike Faist) and Patrick Zweige (Josh O'Connor). We first see Duncan's hunger for the win during a tennis match, where she plays on the court with ferocity and defeats her competition with ease. The best friends are mesmerised by her presence, and follow her like love-sick puppies at the after-party until they finally pluck up the courage to speak to her. In that moment, they both fall in love and become enamoured with Tashi, as does the audience. Before this pivotal moment, the story was through the eyes of two men and their tennis dreams - until Tashi takes centre stage.
The now famous bedroom scene with the trio highlights the chemistry between the throuple and almost foreshadows the lead Tashi will take in their lives for the next 20 years. As she sits back with a subtle smile, suggesting that the boys kiss, she uncovers their lust for not only her, but for each other. From that moment that Tashi is in control but the key is, Art and Patrick allow her to take on that role.
(L to R) Mike Faist as Art, Zendaya as Tashi and Josh O'Connor as Patrick in CHALLENGERS, directed by Luca Guadagnino, a Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures film. Image Source:Metro Goldwyn Mayer Pictures© 2023 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc.All Rights Reserved.
From that very first moment they both laid eyes on Tashi, Art and Patrick knew the woman she was. She puts tennis over feelings and if anything, tennis is a metaphor for power. It's the only way they know how to communicate and she uses that to her advantage. To continue to involve themselves with Tashi up to 20 years later (in Art's case, marrying her and in Patrick's case, continuing to seek her out and lust over her) even after knowing the ruthless personality she has — is simply their own prerogative.
We've all seen how ambitious women are treated in society — they are always seen as 'too much' and societal stereotypes mean that men try to bring them down a peg.
Some people blame Tashi for the demise of the friendship between Patrick and Art. It couldn't possibly be because of the men's stubbornness, right? Yes, she does some bad things, but don't they all? In their teenage years Patrick and Tashi dated. Art initially sabotaged his best friend's relationship with Tashi and started the friction between the trio. He didn't respect his best friend's relationship at the time and years later he married her. In the same breath, Patrick is brash, immature and like a wrecking ball in all of their lives. They all have their faults, so Tashi getting the sole blame for the demise of their friendship isn't fair or balanced.
After a career-ending injury, Tashi's tennis dreams are prematurely dashed. So, instead of fulfilling her own tennis dreams she had to let a man , husband Donaldson, do it for her. In many ways I feel empathy for her. Her injury is heartbreaking because all those dreams and hours of building both physical and mental strength is cut short.
Duncan is also an ambitious Black woman and when you peel back those layers to her story, some of her questionable decisions become less hard to believe. Zendaya told Variety: "This happens to a lot to women in power, especially Black women in power. Just feeling minimised or not being fully seen in all of their power, because they're in the shadow of their partner. That's part of why she makes some of the decisions she makes." For Duncan, being minimised to just 'Art Donaldson's wife' is quite possibly the worst thing that could happen to her. Which is why she is so persistent in her pursuit to to be recognised as the tennis coach who made him a Grand Slam Champion.
Duncan is also navigating a world where she is the minority. The actress told Variety: "For Tashi, I don't know if she got to see many people like herself doing it. It's 2000-whatever. I don't know if she had many peers, and never probably felt represented in those ways. It's very clear to her that she's coming into a place of privilege and access that she clearly didn't grow up with, so she enjoys fucking with them about it."
Image Source: Niko Tavernise© 2024 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Inc. All Rights Reserved.
For Tashi, the hunger for the win is deeper. Zendaya explained in the same interview: "There's a different need to succeed. She says that to Patrick: 'Why don't you just go ask for a seat on the board or to get some money for your parents?' She didn't have that. All of her background is riding on her shoulders. The opportunities are much smaller for her. The door is much smaller for her. It's clear that she's had to fight her way in and is dealing with it on the daily — what it means to be a Black girl in that space. Tennis means more to her than it does to them; it's not just something she decided to do because 'I had the luxury of getting tennis lessons as a kid.' This is it for her. This is what's going to take care of herself and her family and the future. There's so much riding on it. That's what she's up against. That's something they'll never understand."
"It's clear that she's had to fight her way in and is dealing with it on the daily — what it means to be a Black girl in that space. Tennis means more to her than it does to them."
Art and Patrick always come back to her. Despite what the internet say, these men are also driven by success. They all use underhanded ways to get to what they want. It's just more visible when a woman, especially a woman of colour, is so vocal and authoritative about it. As a Black woman, these ambitions are even more hyper-visible. It's almost like people don't expect it of her — but Duncan is in a league of her own.
Yes, Tashi Duncan is messy — but that doesn't make her a villain. All I see is an ambitious, attractive woman who is still grappling with the loss of tennis dreams but is still ruthless in her drive for success. Her one true love is tennis and she's made no secret about that.
Aaliyah Harry (she/her) is the associate editor at PS UK. She writes extensively across lifestyle, culture and beauty. Aaliyah also has a deep passion for telling stories and giving voice to the voiceless. Previously, she has contributed to Refinery29, Grazia UK and The Voice Newspaper.
