In the closing part of Challengers, the story moves through different timelines to show that Tashi had a sexual moment with Patrick and then begged him to lose the match so that Art could win deliberately. Her reason for that request is rooted in how she sees both men’s situations.
She believes Patrick’s tennis career is already gone, and since he’s from a wealthy background, he’ll be fine. But for Art, she believes a win in that match is necessary for him to close his career with peace of mind. Earlier, Art had told Tashi that he wasn’t enjoying tennis anymore and just wanted to stop playing after that season.
When winning means losing something deeper (Photo: Challengers/Amazon MGM Studios)At the same time, Patrick had approached Tashi too, asking her to become his coach so he could keep pushing forward in his career — something he still had the drive for, unlike Art. The intimate moment between Tashi and Patrick happened in a car the night before the tournament, with heavy winds outside like a storm.
It also followed deep conversations about how his friendship with Art fell apart, especially after Art left for college with Tashi. From there, she and Art built a romantic relationship that led to marriage, while Patrick chased a fast lifestyle and his tennis dreams, though without much achievement.
Once the match kicked off, Patrick quickly put pressure on Art, taking the lead early. But things started to change later as Art began to find his rhythm again. As the game neared its end, Patrick decided to remind Art of a signal from their past — something he used long ago when he and Tashi first slept together during their teenage years.
He used it again by placing the ball in the neck of the racket, making it clear to Art that he and Tashi had been intimate recently. The silent tension between the three of them could be seen in their expressions, revealing the emotional battle happening alongside the physical one.
Art picked up momentum again, and the two players went head-to-head fiercely, neither willing to back down. By the time they got to match point, both men were near the net. Art jumped for the final stroke, but Patrick jumped as well, and instead of a hard finish, the moment turned into a heartfelt embrace over the net.
Tashi shouted with joy at the moment, as the two former friends hugged each other warmly in what became an emotional and satisfying final image.
Who won the match at the end of the Challengers?
The film didn’t provide a clear answer on who ended up winning the match — or even who Tashi truly chose. That confusion appears to be intentional. Patrick scored the first point in the final tiebreaker, but once the film cut to the credits, the remaining six points were never revealed.
While speaking with Entertainment Weekly, director Luca Guadagnino mentioned that the three characters were acting out a 13-year attempt to return to the moment when their connection was pure — back in that hotel room when their desires were just beginning to form.
Strategy played out beyond the court (Photo: Challengers/Amazon MGM Studios)He also mentioned that they were chasing a kind of peace that used to exist between them. And by the time they faced off in that match with all their issues at their peak, it brought them back to that original place, except this time, it was happening on the court.
The director avoided giving any more direct explanations. He explained that what mattered most wasn’t who won or lost, but the intensity of the moment, and how it helped them reconnect, which was the deeper meaning he wanted people to feel.
Screenwriter Justin Kuritzkes also shared his thoughts about the ending, revealing that he had envisioned the final moments long before the full story was even written. He said that image stayed in his mind from the very beginning of the writing process.
The ending went through a few adjustments, but what eventually made it to the screen was very close to what he imagined from the start, and he felt satisfied with the way it turned out, even describing it as surreal.
Zendaya’s take on the ending of Challengers
Zendaya recently shared her views on the conclusion during an interview with The New York Times, saying some people might find the ending “confusing”. She explained how her mother had a very different interpretation from hers.
According to her mum, Tashi looked upset at the end because she realized the two men no longer needed her. But Zendaya pointed out that she smiled a little in the final scene, hinting at a different emotional outcome.
Her mother had been watching the film behind her, and whenever Tashi made questionable decisions or cheated on her husband, her mum reacted strongly, clearly annoyed by Tashi’s behavior. Zendaya said she found her mother’s reading surprising and didn’t understand where it came from.
Even though she acted in the film and had her view of what the ending meant, her mum stood firm on her interpretation and simply said, “So sorry, that’s how I see it.” Guadagnino later responded to this by saying he liked that reading.
He compared Tashi to a director — someone like Lermontov from The Red Shoes — who controls and drives events. He even agreed that her mother’s opinion adds another layer to the story that goes beyond what the filmmakers had in mind.
He concluded by saying that if anyone were to pause the film at the final frame, they would see Tashi smiling, and that moment carries its meaning.
