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From Movie Double to US Open: Frodin's Debut
1 Sep
Summary
- Thea Frodin, 17, debuts at the US Open as a wildcard.
- She previously played Serena Williams' double in King Richard.
- Frodin aims to meet her idol Serena Williams at the tournament.
Thea Frodin, a 17-year-old emerging tennis talent, is poised to make her US Open debut as a wildcard on Tuesday, September 1, 2026. This marks her first widely publicized match after winning the U.S. Tennis Association Girls' 18s National Championships. Frodin gained early recognition at age 12 for her role as Serena Williams' body double in the 2021 biopic King Richard.
Frodin will face Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in her opening WTA Tour match. She described the experience as surreal, stating that playing in the main draw is a lifelong dream come true. Frodin’s journey to professional tennis includes winning singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at a California sectional tournament, which led to her audition for the film.
Notably, Serena and Venus Williams are also competing in the US Open women's doubles as wildcards. Frodin, despite her role in the Williams sisters' biopic, has not yet met them but expressed a strong desire to do so during the tournament, calling it an incredible dream. The tournament begins September 1, 2026.
