Under the lights of New York, Thea Frodin is there as herself, not as a stand-in or body double. Five years ago, she was a 12-year-old tasked with capturing the movements of Serena Williams for the big screen. Now, Frodin is chasing her own breakthrough.
From Hollywood to Hard Courts
Frodin’s first experience of tennis on a grand stage came before rolling cameras rather than roaring crowds. She was handpicked to be the tennis-playing body double for a young Serena in the Oscar-nominated film King Richard, working alongside Will Smith, who played Richard Williams. For six months, she spent days in the chill and drizzle of Los Angeles, hitting balls and mimicking the strokes of her idol while Smith brought her hot water to stave off the cold.
The Hollywood experience stayed with her. “Being able to play the role of somebody that I looked up to for my whole life was super special,” Frodin recalled. “She was one of the players that I looked up to most, just when I was starting to play. She’s such an inspiration to me.”
Serena’s on-screen backhand also found its way into Frodin’s game, to the frustration of her coaches. “After I was done shooting, I got used to her strokes,” she said. “I tried as much as possible to go back to my strokes.”
Earning Her Moment
At 17, Frodin arrived at Flushing Meadows ranked 580th in the world and with a US Open main-draw place earned through results, not casting. She punched her ticket by capturing the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships, dismantling Janae Preston 6-1, 6-0 in the final. The wildcard was hers.
This season, the numbers hint at a player in motion:
| Year | Singles Record | Ranking Jump | Junior Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 18-10 | +400 places | Aus Open girls’ SF |
| 2025 | – | – | Wimbledon girls’ dubs finalist |
Professional events have offered an early test, including a three-set push of former world No. 35 Viktorija Golubic in Miami. Each result has moved Frodin further from the shadow of someone else’s legend.
Facing the World Number Two
New York has handed Frodin a daunting first-round assignment: world No. 2 Elena Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion and a two-time major winner. The draw could hardly be more difficult.
“I’m trying to stay in the moment as much as possible,” Frodin said. “This is a huge opportunity for me to enjoy the moment, have fun and see what I can do. The atmosphere, how loud the crowd will be, I feel like I fit well in that environment.”
Serena and Venus Williams, the sisters who inspired Frodin’s early dreams, will be together in the doubles draw this year. Frodin, once the on-screen echo of Serena’s childhood, now walks the same corridors at the same tournament as a main-draw player.
Frodin is neither the favourite nor the headliner. Against Rybakina, the girl who once played Serena will get her first chance to show how she plays as herself.
