Thea Frodin, a 17-year-old who appeared as Serena Williams’ body double in the film “King Richard,” is making her U.S. Open singles debut. She plays Elena Rybakina, the No. 2-ranked player, in the first round and loses her match in the main draw.
Several outlets describe Frodin’s path to the tournament as she earns a wild card after performing well at youth events, including the USTA Billie Jean King Girls’ 18s. Reports also note that she enters with strong serving and forehand skills and is not a newcomer to cameras and crowds. While her overall outing ends in defeat, multiple accounts frame the matchup as a high-profile first Slam against a top seed.
Outlets largely agree on the same matchup and result, with some emphasizing her film connection and others focusing more on how she qualified and what her game showed against Rybakina. Some coverage also points to Rybakina’s health entering the match, though the central story remains Frodin’s debut and its outcome.
