NewzThea Frodin hits a return to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina during their women's singles first round tennis match on day three of the US Open tennis tournament. (AFP pic)NEW YORK: Thea Frodin made her US Open debut on Tuesday but one dream remains unfulfilled for the 17-year-old, who is still waiting to meet Serena Williams five years after appearing as the American's tennis double in the film "King Richard".Serena, a 23-times Grand Slam champion, returned to the court for the first time in nearly four years at the Queen's Club Championships in London in June and is back at Flushing Meadows competing in doubles with sister Venus."Hopefully I can get the chance soon to get the opportunity to meet her," Frodin told reporters after losing 6-1 6-1 to world number two Elena Rybakina on Arthur Ashe Stadium.Frodin earned a wildcard for the US Open by winning the USTA Girls' 18s National Championships, and while her Grand Slam debut against Rybakina was a harsh introduction to life at the elite level, she said it was a valuable lesson for her career."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 said."My goal on court is always to have an aggressive game style. Today I feel like it was a bit harder to bring that out.
Hopefully the next time I can be more experienced and see what I can do."Frodin said she had managed to handle the attention surrounding her unusual connection to Serena, though acknowledged it was difficult to escape the headlines before her debut."I think it's hard to get away from all of that. It's kind of just about accepting it and not letting it get to you," she added.Actor Will Smith, who won an Academy Award for playing Serena's father Richard Williams in the film, reposted one of Frodin's social media posts before her match, something she described as "pretty cool".Frodin plans to play the girls' US Open next week and finish high school before deciding whether to turn professional or play college tennis."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."
US's Thea Frodin hits a return to Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina during their women's singles first-round match at the US Open. (AFP pic)NEW YORK: Thea Frodin is just 17 but she has already appeared in one of Hollywood's most iconic tennis movies.On Tuesday, the Los Angels high school student got a taste of big-time pro tennis.Frodin, who appeared in the Oscar-winning film "King Richard" as a body double for the actress who played a young Serena Williams, drew a tough assignment for her US Open main draw debut: Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina.Seeded second, Rybakina eased past Frodin 6-3, 6-2 in a big-hitting match. Rybakina, who has also won Wimbledon, did not lose serve in the one hour 14 minute contest."Obviously I had a tough first round.
Rybakina is a great player," said Frodin, whose run to the US national 18 and under championship won her a wild card to the US Open."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 said."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 said.Rybakina, for one, was impressed, saying Frodin "played really well today".As a 12-year-old, Frodin was the stunt and body double for Demi Singleton, the actress who played young Serena in the movie depicting Richard Williams and the rise of his daughters Serena and Venus Williams.Frodin, who has not met Serena Williams but hopes to, has not yet settled on whether she might go to college or seek a professional career."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 said.However, Frodin is looking forward to getting another crack at Rybakina."Hopefully the next time I meet her, if I do, I can be more experienced and, yeah, see what I can do," Frodin said.
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