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Sumnima Kandangwa

Freelance Editorial Assistant for Style by SCMP


Thea Frodin was only 12 when she was the body double of actress Demi Singleton, who played young Serena Williams in the 2021 film King Richard, which chronicles Serena and Venus Williams’ rise to tennis stardom with the help of their father Richard Williams. Earlier this week, the rising tennis star made her US Open debut.

The 17-year-old was up against reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina on September 1. She was eliminated, but this is just the start of Frodin’s tennis career.
Here’s everything you need to know about the up-and-coming tennis star, Thea Frodin.
She grew up playing tennis

Thea Frodin was born in December 2008 in Southern California. She started playing tennis when she was six and by 12, she was already proving her talent on the court, so much so that she was cast as the body double of actress Demi Singleton who played young Serena Williams in the Oscar-winning film King Richard starring Will Smith.
Frodin spent months mastering the movements and strokes required to mimic a young Serena for the film.
“Being able to play the role of somebody that I looked up to for my whole life was super special. I was honoured. She was one of the players that I looked up to most, just when I was starting to play, and she’s such an inspiration to me,” she said at the time, according to The Sun.
She is unsure about a professional tennis career

Since starring in the film, Frodin has continued to hone her talents. In 2023, she was first runner-up in the girls’ 16s event at the Orange Bowl, a prestigious annual youth tennis tournament held in Florida.
Frodin, who is six feet tall, went on to qualify for the US Open as a wild card after winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s national championship and beating out five seeded players.
“I tried going out there to see what it would be like just to, I guess, feel no pressure … just go out there and have a fun time,” Frodin told The New Zealand Herald after her loss against Rybakina on September 1. “I feel like that’s what I accomplished, and obviously I have a lot to learn, but I’m excited with most of the things I did out there.”
She has also expressed that she’s still unsure about whether she will pursue a professional career in tennis after graduating from high school.
“I think I’m trying to just finish high school, see where the rest of this year takes me,” Frodin said. “I’m not rushing into kind of making a decision with all that,” she told the newspaper.


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Thea Frodin (left) was the body double of Demi Singleton, the actress who played Serena Williams (right) in the 2021 film King Richard. Photos: @thea.frodin, @serenawilliams/Instagram

Thea Frodin serves against Elena Rybakina during the first round of the US Open on Tuesday. Photo: Getty Images/TNS

Thea Frodin was already a promising tennis player at 12. Photo: @thea.frodin/Instagram

Thea Frodin entered the 2026 US Open as a wild card. Photo: @thea.frodin/Instagram

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The 17-year-old, who lost to No 2 seed Elena Rybakina in the first round, wants to graduate from high school before deciding on whether to turn pro


The 17-year-old, who lost to No 2 seed Elena Rybakina in the first round, wants to graduate from high school before deciding on whether to turn pro.


Meet Thea Frodin: from young Serena Williams body double in King Richard to US Open debut

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The 17-year-old, who lost to No 2 seed Elena Rybakina in the first round, wants to graduate from high school before deciding on whether to turn pro

The 17-year-old, who lost to No 2 seed Elena Rybakina in the first round, wants to graduate from high school before deciding on whether to turn pro