A Full-Circle Moment
Thea Frodin is about to experience a full-circle moment. Five years after playing a young Serena Williams in the 2021 filmKing Richard, the 17-year-old American is preparing to make her Grand Slam main-draw debut at the US Open.
Frodin's first-round opponent is world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, who enters the tournament after recovering from an ankle injury suffered at the Cincinnati Open. The Australian Open champion presents a formidable challenge for the teenager.
Reflecting on her main-draw breakthrough, Frodin said, "I've only dreamed of moments like this. The fact that I'm here right now, and able to experience it in real life, is still a little bit shocking to me. To be standing here right now and actually getting a chance to play in the main draw, it means everything."
From Hollywood to Hard Courts
Long before her Grand Slam debut, Frodin had already found herself connected to one of tennis' greatest names. At just 12, she was selected as Serena Williams' tennis body and stunt double forKing Richard, spending around six months working on the film. She had to replicate Serena's strokes and even found herself adopting elements of the American legend's technique.
Frodin has described Serena as someone she has always admired, making the circumstances of her US Open debut even more striking. Serena herself is also in New York this year, competing alongside sister Venus in the women's doubles.
Junior Success and a National Title
Frodin's route to the US Open has been built on an impressive junior career and a breakthrough domestic triumph. She earned her wild card after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls' 18s National Championships in San Diego earlier this month, defeating Janae Preston 6-1, 6-0 in the final. In the semifinals, she beat Julieta Pareja 7-6(2), 7-6(4).
Born and raised in Southern California, Frodin first picked up a tennis racquet at six and now trains full-time in Nashville. She is currently ranked around No. 580 in the world and has already shown signs of a promising professional career.
Her biggest junior result came earlier this year when she reached the girls' singles semi-finals at the Australian Open. She was also the runner-up in the girls' doubles at Wimbledon in 2025.
A Tough Test Ahead
Frodin is not the first athlete to go from Hollywood stand-in to elite competition; Australian surfer Isabella Nichols won the 2022 Margaret River Pro after being cast in a film. But for Frodin, the transition has been deliberate. Her coaching team had to intervene to help her build her own game and not copy Serena's style.
Now, at 17, she is making her Grand Slam main-draw debut at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. The timing could not be more unforgiving, as she faces one of the toughest tests in women's tennis.
"(Rybakina) is number two for a reason, so I'm expecting a battle. Hopefully, I can bring out my best level against her," Frodin stated ahead of the big match.
As she steps onto the court, Frodin will have to step out of Serena's shadow and create a story of her own.