With Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers still firmly in the zeitgeist, parallels can definitely be drawn between the Italian’s critically acclaimed melodrama and this Danish physical theatre show, from slow-motion sequences to its clubby soundtrack. However, in Tennis we’re stepping into the 1980 Wimbledon final between Björn Borg and John McEnroe, watching it re-enacted through a mixture of mime, song and choreographed combat. The production value is impressively high; there’s a proper tennis court, astroturf and a ball-shaped projector screen on which real snippets of the match play out. Sound cues, from the sounds of balls bouncing to crowds cheering, and light design are executed to perfection. 

It’s such a shame then that our two players, despite working up a serious sweat, don’t quite meet the bar this stellar set has handed them. Clowning sections feel flat and their connection to the audience drops in and out like bad Wi-Fi. Despite the simplicity of this narrative, there’s a lack of clarity on stage: we often need cues to let us know who’s won a point, for example. If the bare bones of this show received as much love as the production, they would be winning in straight sets.

Tennis, Zoo Southside, until 25 August, 2.30pm; main picture: Emilia Theresa.