If young tennis star Thea Frodin reminds you of a young Serena Williams, it’s because she is one — in a manner of speaking.
Frodin, 17, will make her US Open singles debut on Tuesday, September 1, five years after being the body double for Demi Singleton, the actress who played a young Williams in the 2021 movie King Richard.
“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,” Frodin told the Associated Press on Monday, August 31.
Frodin will face No. 2 Elena Rybakina in the first round of the US Open.
Though this is her first time playing singles at the US Open, Frodin has played competitive tennis since childhood. Her success at 10-and-under tennis in California is what first got her the opportunity to audition for the sports drama that centered around Richard Williams, father of Serena, 44, and her sister, fellow tennis prodigy Venus Williams.
“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,” Frodin said. “And obviously to be able to play the double, or the role, of somebody that I look up to and I have always been inspired by was truly, like, a very special experience for me.”
Frodin soon found out that her role was more than just acting. She began to notice Serena’s tendencies started to leak into her own tennis game.
“It’s actually funny. After I was done with the movie, I actually got into the habit of using, or playing with her strokes, and I couldn’t switch back to mine because I was so used to hers,” she said. “So my parents — I mean, obviously, it’s a great person to replicate — but my parents were a little bit upset because I was playing like Serena, so it took me a while to get back to my normal technique.”
Still early in her professional career, Frodin said she isn’t sure what the future holds — on the court or in front of the camera.
“Obviously, my No. 1 focus always has been tennis, but I’ve always had this little thought in the back of my mind. I feel like it would be really cool if I could somehow balance both,” Frodin said. “I mean, I loved every second of being in that kind of environment, of that kind of acting life. I enjoy it a lot, and yeah, if it’s even possible, I don’t mind having that as a side gig, you know?”
