Teen tennis star Frodin steps onto US Open stage after Serena role

NEW YORK — Five years after portraying a young Serena Williams on screen, American teenager Thea Frodin is preparing for her maiden appearance at the US Open, the same prestigious tournament where the tennis legend won multiple Grand Slam titles.

Frodin, 17, gained early exposure to the sport and the Williams family story while acting in "King Richard", the biographical film that traced the journey of Richard Williams as he coached his daughters Venus and Serena to greatness. The experience helped shape her passion for competitive tennis at an age when most players are still developing their game.

Now competing in her own right, Frodin's US Open debut marks a significant milestone in her emerging tennis career. The tournament, held annually in New York, has long been one of tennis's most prestigious stages and has witnessed some of the sport's most memorable moments.

Frodin's path from the silver screen to professional tennis illustrates the diverse routes young athletes can take to reach elite competition. Her appearance at the US Open adds another chapter to her story, as she seeks to establish herself among the sport's rising talents and carve out her own identity beyond her earlier film work.