Serena Williams’ body double in “King Richard,” Thea Frodin, will be making her US Open debut on September 1, 2026.
This comes five years after the tennis player took on the body double role for the actress who played the young Serena Williams in the iconic 2021 film “King Richard.”
Thea Frodin steps into the world of professional tennis with her first game against the world-ranked No. 2, Elena Rybakina. Serena Williams’ stance in the upcoming games seemed shaky after an injury.
Frodin has moved from screens to the professional tennis court and is set to play her first game on Tuesday, September 1. She has drawn very tough competition for her first game at the US Open, as she currently ranks at No. 580 and would be playing against one of the big guns, Rybakina.
Even though this marks her first time playing singles at the US Open, the athlete is no novice at the sport. Frodin has played competitive tennis since childhood and has won many matches. Her success in 10-and-under tennis in California paved the way for her to audition for a role in “King Richard.”
In case you didn’t know, the 2021 sports drama film centers on world champion Serena, her sister, fellow tennis prodigy Venus Williams, and their father, Richard Williams.
Speaking about her upcoming game, Frodin told the Associated Press, “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,” on Monday, August 31.
Thea Frodin Previously Recalled Her Life On Set
Frodin reflected on the six months she spent filming “King Richard,” saying, “I remember it being a blast.” She explained that she enjoyed the experience because it combined doing something she already loved with being on camera.
The 17-year-old tennis player shared that she spent ample time on set with Will Smith, who plays Richard. She remembers him as “sweet, friendly and encouraging,” adding that the award-winning actor was always willing to give the youngster acting tips.
The athlete also recalled a fond memory of being drenched in fake rain, which was uncomfortable. Between takes, Smith advised her to pour hot water down her back to help offset the coolness of the rain.
As reported by WTA, Frodin never met Serena or Venus while shooting the film, but she hopes that will change during the US Open. She would be playing her debut match on the same court where Serena won six singles titles.
Frodin’s Acting Gig Meant Learning And Unlearning
Frodin was on set a few days a week for six months. Her job was to replicate young Serena’s strokes. She also got to do a bit of non-tennis acting, including a scene where they shot Frodin looking frustrated at her dad, Smith.
The young tennis player said that she felt “honored” to play the role of someone she looked up to for inspiration. However, six months of learning, perfecting, and replicating the Grand Slam champ’s plays came with a downside.
Frodin’s parents, Mathias Frodin and Doriane Cooper, were reportedly worried that she had copied Serena’s style so much that it was starting to affect her own.
Athlon Sports shared that the athlete, who was not even a teenager at the time, said she had become so accustomed to Serena’s strokes that it took her a while to return to her natural style.
The Tennis Star Sisters Praised The Actors For A Job Well Done On ‘King Richard’
Just before the sports drama hit theater screens in 2021, Venus and Serena gave their thoughts on how the cameras captured their story. Describing the project as “surreal,” they praised the movie stars who went the extra mile to make the story as true to life as possible.
“To see these incredible actresses and everyone behind it just putting this all together about our dad’s journey, but because of myself and my sister, it really is like, ‘Wow, OK, really? Are we really something?’” Serena said at a Warner Bros conference.
She gave a special shout-out to Smith, who won an Oscar for his performance in the film, saying he embodied the role so well that it took the whole film to another level.
Venus shared that the movie made her emotional while praising Demi Singleton, who played Serena, and Saniyya Sidney, who played Venus, for portraying their characters so well.
“Demi and Saniyya really acted like Serena and I, even when the cameras weren’t rolling, like holding hands, and it was so sweet,” Venus reportedly said in the same interview.
Serena Williams Has Been Gearing Up For The US Open
Serena was supposed to play a doubles game with Venus on July 4 against Camilla Osorio and Solana Sierra; however, after a knee injury in her singles game against Maya Joint, she decided to sit out of the highly anticipated doubles.
About a month later, a social media post from the 23-time Grand Slam champion restored some hope to the minds of fans that they would be seeing her on the court again. In the post shared on Serena’s Instagram story, she was dressed in blue leggings, a white athletic shirt, and white sneakers, hitting a tennis ball back and forth on a court.
Many initially speculated that the knee injury was a stepping stone to retirement for the most decorated tennis player. However, The Blast reported that her coach, Rennae Stubbs, clarified that retirement was off the books for Serena, who was already eyeing the Upcoming US Open tournament.
Will Thea Fordin win as many medals as Serena Williams?
