From Hollywood Stunt Court to Flushing Meadows: Thea Frodin’s Impressive U.S. Open Debut

NEW YORK — Before she was stepping onto the hallowed hard courts of the U.S. Open, 17-year-old Thea Frodin was already familiar with the intensity of high-stakes tennis—albeit in front of a film crew rather than a roaring stadium crowd.

The California native, who served as a body double for the character of a young Serena Williams in the Oscar-nominated film King Richard, made her highly anticipated Grand Slam and WTA Tour debut this Tuesday. While the scoreboard reflected a 6-3, 6-2 loss to world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, the lanky teenager proved that her game is far more than a cinematic prop.

A Powerful Statement

Standing at 6-foot tall, Frodin wasted no time establishing her presence against one of the game’s elite. Despite the loss, she dazzled the crowd with her aggressive playing style, racking up 11 aces—a tally nearly double that of the seasoned Rybakina.

“I feel I have always been an aggressive player. That’s always been kind of my game, just to be aggressive,” Frodin said after the match. “Obviously, my height gives me the chance to serve bigger.”

Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon champion, was quick to acknowledge the threat posed by the young debutant. “I think that she has great shots, and especially her serve,” Rybakina noted. “She has this powerful game, which is great. It’s just a matter of experience, being more stable, and playing more matches. But she has the game. She can be quite dangerous.”

From ‘King Richard’ to Reality

Frodin’s path to the professional circuit has been unconventional. Her breakout came after earning a wild card into the U.S. Open by winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships. However, she first garnered public attention for her six-month stint on the set of the 2021 biopic King Richard.

Despite the inevitable media buzz surrounding her Hollywood background as she walked onto the court in New York, Frodin remained composed. “It’s kind of just about accepting it and not letting it get to you,” she said. “I feel like I did a good job of that.”

A Future on the Horizon

As she balances the final chapters of her high school education with her burgeoning tennis career, Frodin plans to continue competing on the junior circuit while processing the lessons learned from her brush with world-class competition.

For the teenager, Tuesday’s loss was less of a defeat and more of a masterclass in what it takes to compete at the highest level. “It was a fun experience to kind of see how the best players in the world hit their balls and their shots,” Frodin reflected. “Hopefully, the next time I meet her, if I do, I can be more experienced and see what I can do.”

With a powerful serve already in her arsenal and a professional debut under her belt, Frodin has signaled that she is no longer just a body double for greatness—she is beginning to forge a path of her own.