LOS ANGELES, April 25 (Reuters) - When Zendaya first

read the script for director Luca Guadagnino's romantic sports

film "Challengers," she immediately understood that the tennis

player turned coach she would portray was unapologetic about her

own power and how she wielded it.

"I also think that she isn't immediately dislikable, and she

isn't perfect, and she isn't trying to be and we're not making

any excuses for that either," Zendaya said about her character,

Tashi Duncan.

At the Los Angeles premiere of the film, Zendaya took to the

stage in her neon green halter dress and urged audiences not to

judge the characters in the movie too harshly.

For Zendaya, it is important to have complex characters like

the ones in the movie, even if it means they are not necessarily

likeable.

The film focuses on Duncan, a former tennis prodigy who

becomes a coach following a career-shattering leg injury.

She coaches her husband, portrayed by Mike Faist, who is a

tennis champion facing a losing streak. Her strategy to help him

win is a surprise tournament against his ex-best friend, who is

also Duncan's ex-boyfriend.

The movie explores the often-unpredictable bond between the

three main characters and how it intersects with their joint

passion for professional tennis.

The Amazon MGM Studios film arrives in theaters on Friday.

"We all are kind of very quick to judge characters," said

Josh O'Connor, who plays Duncan's ex-boyfriend.

"But I think ultimately, the three of them have got this

very complicated situation thrown upon them where they all kind

of love each other," O'Connor said.

As Zendaya and her co-stars delved in to their characters

and built chemistry over 12 weeks, they began to understand more

of the psychology of tennis players.

"It seems incredibly lonely, and it's just you out there,"

Zendaya said. "I mean, there's someone across from you, but

really you feel very isolated on your own and there's so much

mental fortitude to stay focused and there's so many people

watching you and every point matters so much."

Adding to the layers of her character, Zendaya worked to

learn more about the sport while filming, garnering a compliment

from former tennis star Serena Williams.

She sported outfits inspired by the movie while attending

premieres.

"I want to try to make it feel like it's still an extension

of the creative process of the making of it (the film) too," she

said.