From Hollywood Stunt Double to Grand Slam Contender: Thea Frodin’s Rapid Rise
At just 17 years old, most high school students are worried about their upcoming exams or college applications. For Los Angeles native Thea Frodin, the stakes are significantly higher: she is preparing to walk onto one of the world’s most iconic tennis stages for her U.S. Open singles debut, facing a daunting first-round challenge against the No. 2 player in the world, Elena Rybakina.
While this may be Frodin’s professional breakthrough, the spotlight is far from a foreign concept. Five years ago, as a 12-year-old tennis prodigy, Frodin stepped into a different kind of limelight—as a body double in the Academy Award-winning film King Richard.
A Hollywood Childhood
In the 2021 biopic, which chronicled the lives of Venus and Serena Williams, Frodin served as the tennis body double for Demi Singleton, who portrayed a young Serena. The production process was an immersive experience for the teenager, who spent six months on set rubbing shoulders with A-list stars, including Will Smith.
“I was on set for six months and I got to be alongside some really cool actors and obviously Will Smith, and just the whole experience was super cool for me,” Frodin reflected in a recent phone interview. “To be able to play the double, or the role of somebody that I look up to and I have always been inspired by, was truly a very special experience.”
However, the role came with an unexpected technical challenge. Immersing herself in the mechanics of a tennis legend left a lasting impact on her own game. “It’s actually funny. After I was done with the movie, I actually got into the habit of playing with her strokes, and I couldn’t switch back to mine,” Frodin admitted. Her coaches and parents eventually had to step in, as the teenager had become so adept at mimicking the 23-time Grand Slam champion that she had lost the rhythm of her own natural technique.
Stepping Into Her Own Spotlight
Transitioning from a cinematic shadow to the center of the court, Frodin has spent the last few years relentlessly honing her craft. Her journey to the U.S. Open was earned through grit, culminating in her victory at the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships. That triumph secured her the coveted wild-card entry into the tournament.
“I’ve worked so hard to try and get to this level, and to have an opportunity like this is just really special for me,” she said.
Though she is currently laser-focused on her professional tennis career, Frodin hasn’t completely closed the door on the silver screen. She views her time on set as a transformative period and suggests that if the right opportunity arose, she would love to manage both worlds.
“Obviously, my No. 1 focus has always been tennis, but I’ve always had this little thought in the back of my mind. I feel like it would be really cool if I could somehow balance both,” Frodin noted. “I loved every second of being in that kind of environment… if it’s even possible, I don’t mind having that as a side gig.”
As she prepares to face Rybakina, the tennis world is watching to see if this U.S. Open debutant can prove that she is more than just a talented mimic—she is a force to be reckoned with in her own right.
