A Debut With a Difference

Thea Frodin, a 17-year-old from California, made her WTA Tour and Grand Slam debut at the S. Open on Tuesday, facing world No. 2 Elena Rybakina. She lost the first-round match 6-3, 6-2, but her performance was noted for her power, as she hit 11 aces—almost twice as many as Rybakina, as reported by both the New York Daily News and The Times of India.

Frodin's path to this debut was unusual. She earned a wild-card entry by winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls' 18s National Championships, a feat reported by both outlets. Her celebrity, however, stems from a different court: she served as a body double for actress Demi Singleton, who played a young Serena Williams in the 2021 film "King Richard." According to The Times of India, Frodin spent six months working on the film set, having earned the chance to audition through her success in California junior tennis.

Meeting the Moment

Frodin said she approached the match with a focus on enjoying the experience. "I tried going out there to see what it would be like just to feel no pressure," she said, as quoted by the New York Daily News. "Yeah, just go out there and have a fun time. I feel like that's what I accomplished,and obviously I have a lot to learn,but I'm excited with most of the things I did out there."

She also acknowledged the extra attention from the movie, telling The Times of India: "I think it's hard to get away from all of that. It's kind of just about accepting it and not letting it get to you," adding, "I feel like I did a good job of that."

Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion, praised Frodin's game. "I think that she has great shots,and especially serve," Rybakina said, as quoted by The Times of India. "She has this powerful game, which is I think great and it's just a matter of experience, be more stable, playing matches. But she has the game. She can be quite dangerous with these kind of shots."

A Full-Circle Moment

The match at the S. Open was a notable moment for Frodin, who had earlier depicted Serena Williams on screen. The New York Daily News described it as a "full-circle moment," as Frodin competed in a tournament that Williams has long dominated. Serena Williams, a six-time singles champion at the S. Open, was an executive producer on "King Richard" and is set to compete with her sister Venus Williams in the doubles tournament at Flushing Meadows this week, according to the New York Daily News.

Frodin has not yet met Serena Williams, she told the New York Daily News. "Hopefully I can get the chance soon,to get the opportunity to meet her," she said.

The film "King Richard," which starred Will Smith as the title character, won Smith the Best Actor Oscar, as reported by the New York Daily News. Frodin, who is ranked No. 585 in the world, plans to continue playing junior tennis while finishing high school, according to The Times of India.

Looking Ahead

Frodin reflected on what she learned from the experience, telling The Times of India: "I think it was a fun experience to kind of see how the best players in the world, how they hit their balls and their shots. Hopefully the next time I meet her, if I do, I can be more experienced and see what I can do."

Rybakina, who had not seen the movie, said her team told her about Frodin's backstory, calling it a "cool experience," as reported by the New York Daily News.