Tennis is inherently individual, defined by personal intensity and triumph, though team formats exist. Cinematic tennis faces a misperception of scarcity, yet some films foreground the game as central to narrative. Tennis scenes appear across genres from comedy to thriller and reveal character traits and relationships through actions, stop-and-start pacing, and body language. The format allows rapid dialogue between shots while letting physicality communicate subtext. The sport's minimal equipment and accessible locations make on-screen tennis convenient and relatable, providing fertile ground for character-building and versatile storytelling. Exceptional scenes sometimes display authentic technique, though technical accuracy is not essential.
This article was last updated in 2022 but, with the US Open upon us, we're giving it another swing. Tennis is a sport of personal intensity and triumph. Granted, there are ways to play tennis in teams, from doubles to Billie Jean King's long-standing dream of making World Team Tennis one of our major sports. But at its core, tennis is about individuals, which is why it lends itself surprisingly well to the movies.
There's a misperception, however, that tennis isn't a good movie sport because there haven't been that many great tennis movies. Last year's King Richard - overshadowed as its legacy is post- Slap - is one of the rare examples of a movie that forefronts the game in the same way a baseball movie like The Natural or Field of Dreams or a football movie like Rudy or The Longest Yard revolves around their respective sports.
but it's the body language that speaks volumes. Plus, unlike sports that require loads of equipment, facilities, or experience, any two people can play tennis at a public park, a recreational center, or someone's Beverly Hills backyard if they're so fortunate. Tennis scenes are therefore convenient, relatable, and character-building: screenwriting gold. Occasionally, great tennis scenes give good tennis form, too. It's not crucial
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