Thea Frodin, a 17-year-old American tennis player, is making her US Open singles debut against Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina, the world's second-ranked player. Frodin's journey to the US Open includes a unique role in Hollywood: she served as the body double for actor Demi Singleton, who played the younger Serena Williams in the 2021 film "King Richard."
Frodin earned her spot in the tournament by winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls' 18s National Championships, securing a wild card into the main draw. Her path to professional tennis began in Southern California, where her success at the 10-and-under level led to the opportunity to audition for the film.
"Before I was even invited to play the role, I knew who [Serena] was. I'm such a big fan of hers. I always have been," Frodin said, as quoted by USOpen.org. "I was super honored to play the role of somebody that I look up to and admire." She added, "What Serena has done for all of us is something that I can't even grasp."
During her six months on set, Frodin worked alongside actors including Will Smith, who won an Oscar for his portrayal of Richard Williams, Venus and Serena's father. "It helps that I was kind of playing a sport that I've done my whole life, so it didn't feel too new," Frodin recalled. "I just had to go out and play tennis, try to replicate her strokes a little bit."
Frodin found that replicating Williams' strokes, which she was familiar with from years of watching her career, became second nature. However, she noted that the mimicry initially impacted her own playing style. "After I was done with the movie, I actually got into the habit of using, or playing with her strokes, and I couldn't switch back to mine because I was so used to hers," Frodin explained. "So my parents... were a little bit upset because I was playing like Serena, so it took me a while to get back to my normal technique."
Although Frodin has not met Serena or Venus Williams, she competed in the US Open doubles last year. This upcoming match against Rybakina marks her first at the WTA Tour level. Frodin is currently a high school senior and has not yet decided on her post-graduation plans. She expressed interest in potentially balancing her tennis career with acting if opportunities arise, stating, "I loved every second of being in that kind of environment, of that kind of acting life. I enjoy it a lot and yeah, if it's even possible, I don't mind having that as a side gig."