Kirsten Dunst has a mean backhand these days, but she certainly would not want to meet the Williams sisters on the tennis court.

'They would just kill me with their serves,' she told People magazine.

The Spider-Man heroine plays an upcoming star in Richard Loncraine's romance, Wimbledon.

Paul Bettany (remember Russell Crowe's mysterious mate in A Beautiful Mind?), the male lead, plays an experienced tennis pro.

Dunst describes her character in the film as being 'a very angry girl,' who has 'probably one of the loneliest jobs to just be on the tour all the time and not have any friends.

The 22 year old, who was trained by former Wimbledon champion and tennis consultant for the movie Pat Cash, said she has a bad serve but a great backhand.

Being on Centre Court, she said, was an honour, adding, 'If I had gone out there with the crowds, I probably would have cried or something. It just overtakes you when a whole stadium is cheering you.'

As part of her training, she also spoke with the Williams sisters and watched a match between Serena and Venus, saying, 'It just seemed like a really lonely life actually. They're just normally really cool girls. I can't imagine the stuff that they have to go through together as a family. It must be really hard.'

Wimbledon is scheduled to release in the US on September 17.

Photograph: Getty Images