Thea Frodin, Who Was Serena Williams' Body Double in 'King Richard,' Loses in Her US Open Debut
The 17-year-old California native lost 6-3, 6-2 but fired 11 aces and saved multiple match points in her Grand Slam debut.
- Thea Frodin made her Grand Slam debut at the United States Open on Tuesday, falling 6-3, 6-2 to second seed Elena Rybakina. Frodin earned her spot by winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls National Championships.
- Before her professional debut, Frodin worked as a body double for Demi Singleton, who played Serena Williams in the 2021 film "King Richard." She secured that role after winning sectional titles at the 10-and-under level in California.
- Firing 11 aces, Frodin impressed her opponent, Rybakina, who said, "She has great shots." Frodin nearly doubled Rybakina's ace total, despite the loss.
- Rybakina now looks to reach the semifinals to overtake Aryna Sabalenka for the top ranking. Elsewhere, the Open saw Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic suffer his earliest exit in 20 years.
- While her first WTA Tour match ended in defeat, the 17-year athlete showcased formidable power. Frodin's debut at the Grandstand highlights the rise of young Americans in professional tennis.
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The world's number 2, Elena Rybakina, won without trembling as soon as she entered the U.S. Open on Tuesday, against Thea Frodin in two sets.
The Independent
The Independent (US)Serena Williams’ body double in ‘King Richard’ loses in her US Open debut
Thea Frodin, who once had to hit like Serena Williams in a movie, brought her own formidable serve to the court on Tuesday at the U.S. Open.
Thea Frodin, who was Serena Williams' body double in 'King R
Thea Frodin, of the United States, serves the ball to Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, during the first round of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
Associated Press News
Thea Frodin, who was Serena Williams' body double in 'King Richard,' loses in her US Open debut
Thea Frodin once had to hit like Serena Williams in a movie. On Tuesday at the U.S. Open, she showed some pretty good power of her own in real life.
Elena Rybakina qualified without difficulty for the second round of the United States Internationals. Kazakh won 6-3 and 6-2 on Thea Frodin.
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina easily qualified for the second round of the US Open on Tuesday, September 1, by eliminating the very young American player Thea Frodin in two sets (6-3, 6-2).
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