The film's stars answered the critics

Set during the British tennis tournament, Dunst plays a rising star who falls for Bettany's under-achiever.

It is the latest in a series of romantic movies by production company Working Title, also behind Bridget Jones's Diary and Love Actually.

The films stars met waiting fans in Leicester Square and batted away criticism of the movie's tennis scenes.

Some reviewers have said the sequences are far-fetched and unrealistic.

Wearing a peach-coloured, jewel-encrusted, 1920s style dress, Spider-Man star Dunst said: "I thought it looked really exciting and good but it doesn't really bother me.

"Everybody has their own opinion."

London-born Bettany, 33, who appeared in A Beautiful Mind, Dogville and Master and Commander, arrived with his American actress wife Jennifer Connelly.

He admitted he had been nervous at having to look like a real tennis player.

He said: "They hit the ball really hard, they move beautifully, their bodies are so well organised.

"It's like saying I'd like to play Rudolf Nureyev, how long do I have to do it?"