{"id":6419,"date":"2026-09-01T15:35:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T15:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dailycelebnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/01\/serena-williams-king-richard-body-double-set-to-make-us-open-debut-at-17\/"},"modified":"2026-09-01T15:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T15:41:14","slug":"serena-williams-king-richard-body-double-set-to-make-us-open-debut-at-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dailycelebnews.com\/index.php\/2026\/09\/01\/serena-williams-king-richard-body-double-set-to-make-us-open-debut-at-17\/","title":{"rendered":"Serena Williams\u2019 \u2018King Richard\u2019 physique double set to make US Open debut at 17"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The ball is in her courtroom now.<\/p>\n
Thea Frodin is ready to make her Grand Slam main-draw debut on the 2026 US Open on Tuesday \u2014 5 years after performing as Serena Williams\u2019 physique double within the \u201cKing Richard\u201d biopic.<\/p>\n
The 17-year-old will enter the match as a wildcard, taking part in in opposition to Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina within the Girls\u2019s Tennis Affiliation (WTA) Tour foremost draw.<\/p>\nThea Frodin (photographed above taking part in tennis within the 2024 US Open) will make her Grand Slam main-draw debut on Tuesday as a wild card on the 2026 US Open. Getty Pictures<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe 17-year-old athlete (seen taking part in tennis on the USTA Billie Jean King Nationwide Tennis Heart in 2025) will play in opposition to Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina. USTA through Getty Pictures<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve solely dreamed of moments like this. The truth that I\u2019m right here proper now, and in a position to expertise it in actual life, continues to be slightly bit stunning to me,\u201d stated the tennis star, per the event\u2019s web site.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be standing right here proper now and really getting an opportunity to play in the primary draw, it means all the pieces. [Rybakina\u2019s] No. 2 for a motive, so I\u2019m anticipating a battle. Hopefully, I can convey out my finest degree in opposition to her.\u201d<\/p>\n
Frodin was 12 when she booked the function as Williams\u2019 physique double in \u201cKing Richard.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2021 biopic adopted the real-life story of Serena and her sister Venus Williams\u2019 rise to skilled tennis gamers with the assistance of their father, Richard Williams.<\/p>\n\u201cI\u2019ve solely dreamed of moments like this. The truth that I\u2019m right here proper now, and in a position to expertise it in actual life, continues to be slightly bit stunning to me,\u201d stated Frodin (pictured above in 2025). Getty Pictures for LTA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nThe teenager (seen above with Will Smith) portrayed Williams\u2019 physique double within the 2021 \u201cKing Richard\u201d biopic. Thea Frodin\/Instagram<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The teenager booked the function after she swept the singles, doubles and blended at a neighborhood sectional event. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt helps that I used to be sort of taking part in a sport that I\u2019ve finished my entire life, so it didn\u2019t really feel too new,\u201d she defined in an interview on the time, per WTA Tennis.<\/p>\n
\u201cI simply needed to exit and play tennis, attempt to replicate her strokes slightly bit. Doing it with Will Smith was tremendous cool. He\u2019s a brilliant good man. He really gave me some on-set ideas and issues to take with me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Smith, 57, gained an Oscar for his function as Richard, whereas Serena was performed by actress Demi Singleton.<\/p>\n
Though Frodin acted as Serena\u2019s double onscreen, she has by no means met the tennis champ, 44, or Venus, 46, in particular person \u2014 at the least not but.<\/p>\nFrodin has but to satisfy Serena (pictured training tennis in June) or her sister, Venus Williams, in particular person. Getty Pictures for LTA<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\nSerena (pictured above) made a shock return to the US Open this 12 months, 4 years after saying her retirement. Ryan Northrop\/BFA.com\/Shutterstock<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
As for Serena, she made a shock return to the US Open this 12 months, competing in blended doubles and making ready for a girls\u2019s doubles look.<\/p>\n
In 2022, the mother of two introduced she was retiring from tennis to concentrate on constructing her household.<\/p>\n
Serena and her husband, Alexis Ohanian, share\u00a0daughters Olympia and Adira, born in September 2017 and August 2023, respectively.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n