Former Serena Williams body double Thea Frodin makes US Open debut
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The 17-year-old earned a wildcard into the tournament years after helping portray a young Serena in “King Richard.”
Five years after serving as the on-court body double for a young Serena Williams in ‘King Richard’, 17-year-old American tennis player Thea Frodin is stepping onto the US Open stage herself. Frodin earned a wildcard after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships and is making her Grand Slam main-draw debut against world No. 2 Elena Rybakina.
When she was just 12, Frodin was helping recreate the early years of Serena Williams‘ tennis journey for the Oscar-nominated film ‘King Richard.’ Now, at 17, she is no longer portraying a young Serena on screen. She is beginning her own journey at the same Grand Slam where her childhood idol made history.
According to BBC Sports, Frodin was selected as the tennis body double for actress Demi Singleton, who played a young Serena in the 2021 film about Serena, Venus Williams and their father, Richard Williams. She spent roughly six months working on the production, including scenes alongside Will Smith, who portrayed Richard Williams. The experience was so immersive that Frodin says she temporarily began playing like Serena herself.
After filming ended, her coaches noticed that she had adopted elements of Serena’s game, including her backhand technique. Frodin then had to work on returning to her own natural style. That unusual experience now forms part of the backstory to a much bigger achievement: Frodin has earned a place in the US Open women’s singles main draw.
The Woodland Hills, California, teenager received a wildcard after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships in San Diego. That victory earned her a chance to compete at the tournament she once knew only as a fan, and where Serena and Venus Williams are also competing this year in the women’s doubles draw.
Frodin’s rise has been rapid. Earlier this year, she reached the Australian Open girls’ singles semifinals and made her WTA qualifying debut in Miami, where she pushed former world No. 35 Viktorija Golubic to three sets. She is currently ranked around No. 580 in the world. Her US Open debut comes against Elena Rybakina, the world No. 2 and reigning Australian Open champion. Rybakina also entered the tournament after recovering from an ankle injury suffered at the Cincinnati Open.