Teenager Thea Frodin Still Hopes to Meet Her Idol Serena Williams After U.S. Open Debut

Thea Frodin has played Serena Williams on screen, but the 17-year-old still has not met her idol in person. She hopes that changes after making her U.S. Open debut at Flushing Meadows.

Frodin received a wildcard after winning the USTA Girls’ 18s National Championships. Her first Grand Slam match brought a difficult introduction to elite tennis, as she lost 6-1, 6-1 to world No. 2 Elena Rybakina on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

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Hopefully I can get the chance soon to get the opportunity to meet her.

Still, Frodin said the experience gave her a close look at the level she wants to reach. “It was a fun experience to kind of see how the best players in the world, how they hit their balls and their shots,” she told reporters. She said she usually aims for an aggressive style, but found it harder to impose that game against Rybakina.

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It was a fun experience to kind of see how the best players in the world, how they hit their balls and their shots.

Frodin’s unusual connection to Serena has drawn attention ahead of her debut. Five years ago, she appeared as Williams’ tennis double in the film “King Richard.” She said it had been difficult to escape the headlines, but that accepting the attention helped her manage it. Will Smith, who played Serena’s father Richard Williams in the film, also reposted one of her social media posts before the match, which she called “pretty cool.”

Frodin plans to play in the girls’ U.S. Open next week and finish high school before deciding between professional tennis and college. “I’m not rushing into kind of making a decision with all that,” she said. “I’m taking this year and next year to finish high school and then see where I am then.”

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I’m not rushing into kind of making a decision with all that.