Thea Frodin’s Journey from Hollywood to the U.S. Open

Thea Frodin, a 17-year-old tennis player from Los Angeles, faces a daunting task in her first U.S. Open singles match against the world’s No. 2 player, Elena Rybakina. Frodin enters this match with a unique background. She once served as the body double for Demi Singleton, who portrayed a young Serena Williams in the film King Richard (2021).

Frodin considers the opportunity to play at this level as very special. She shared, “I’ve worked so hard to try and get to this level, and to have an opportunity like this is just really special for me.” Her journey to the U.S. Open started after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s National Championships, securing a coveted wild card entry.

Frodin’s path to Hollywood began on the tennis courts of California, where she excelled in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles in the 10-and-under category. This success led her to audition for a part in King Richard, where she showcased her tennis skills as a body double.

I was on set for six months and I got to be alongside some really cool actors and obviously Will Smith, and just the whole experience was super cool for me. – Thea Frodin

Will Smith’s portrayal of Richard Williams in the film won an Oscar. During the production, Frodin found replicating Serena’s iconic strokes seamless due to her familiarity with the 23-time Grand Slam champion’s style. However, imitating Serena impacted her own game. “After I was done with the movie, I actually got into the habit of using her strokes, and I couldn’t switch back to mine,” Frodin noted.

Though she has shared the big screen with talented actors, Frodin has not yet met Serena or Venus Williams. Competing against Rybakina marks her debut at the WTA Tour level, following a previous attempt in Miami earlier this year.

Frodin, with a year left of high school, remains unsure about her future plans. The idea of returning to Hollywood is intriguing to her. “My No. 1 focus always has been tennis, but I feel like it would be really cool if I could somehow balance both,” she stated. Frodin remains open to the prospect of balancing her passion for tennis with potential acting opportunities.