Thea Frodin, Serena Williams’ physique double, loses in US Open debut

Thea Frodin, of america, left, greets Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, after Rybakina gained their match throughout the first spherical of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photograph/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

NEW YORK — Thea Frodin as soon as needed to hit like Serena Williams in a film. On Tuesday on the U.S. Open, she confirmed some fairly good energy of her personal in actual life.

The 17-year-old from California misplaced to No. 2 Elena Rybakina 6-3, 6-2 whereas enjoying her first WTA Tour match in a Grand Slam event.

Frodin fired 11 aces, practically doubling up among the finest servers in ladies’s tennis. She mentioned her film position during which she needed to swing like Williams, the 23-time Grand Slam singles champion, doesn’t imply she feels stress to point out further pop off the racket.

“I really feel I’ve at all times been an aggressive participant. That’s at all times been type of my recreation, simply to be aggressive,” the 6-foot Frodin mentioned. “Clearly my peak provides me the possibility to serve larger.”

Within the 2021 movie “King Richard,” Frodin was the physique double for actor Demi Singleton, who performed the youthful Williams sister. Frodin earned the chance to audition after successful singles, doubles and blended doubles sectional titles on the 10-and-under degree in California after which spent six months engaged on set.

Will Smith gained an Oscar for his efficiency as Richard Williams, father to Serena and her sister, Venus. Frodin hasn’t met the sisters but however mentioned she observed that Smith reposted one in all her social media posts.

Thea Frodin, of america, serves the ball to Elena Rybakina, of Kazakhstan, throughout the first spherical of the U.S. Open tennis championships Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photograph/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Frodin performed her means into the U.S. Open by successful the USTA Billie Jean King Ladies’ 18s Nationwide Championships to earn a wild card. She rapidly gained extra consideration than that sort of participant normally will get due to her “King Richard” expertise, however thought she dealt with that properly.

“I imply, I feel it’s onerous to get away from all of that. It’s type of nearly accepting it and never letting it get to you,” Frodin mentioned. “I really feel like I did an excellent job of that.”

With followers within the Grandstand chanting her title, Frodin fired consecutive aces after going through match level trailing 5-1, then hit one other to erase a 3rd match level Rybakina had earned and ultimately held serve. Rybakina lastly completed the match on her fourth strive by hitting her sixth ace.

Rybakina didn’t know a lot about Frodin the participant, however mentioned throughout their scouting her crew turned conscious of her Williams’ position.

“I feel that she has nice photographs, and particularly serve,” Rybakina mentioned. “She has this highly effective recreation, which is I feel nice and it’s only a matter of expertise, be extra steady, enjoying matches. However she has the sport. She may be fairly harmful with these type of photographs.”

Rybakina is assured to take the No. 1 rating from Aryna Sabalenka if she reaches the semifinals, or if the two-time defending champion doesn’t win the event.

Frodin mentioned enjoying somebody with Rybakina’s abilities made it onerous for her to point out her regular aggressive type. Nonetheless in highschool, she plans to return to junior tennis for now however hopes to have one other probability on the high degree.

“I feel it was a enjoyable expertise to type of see how the very best gamers on the earth, how they hit their balls and their photographs,” Frodin mentioned. “Hopefully the subsequent time I meet her, if I do, I may be extra skilled and see what I can do.”