Thea Frodin, la doublure de Serena Williams dans le film, fait ses débuts aux US Open

Thea Frodin, the 17-year-old American tennis player who served as a body double for Serena Williams in the 2021 film King Richard, made her US Open debut on Tuesday. Competing against world number two Elena Rybakina, Frodin faced a challenging match at the Grandstand court, ultimately losing in straight sets, 6-3, 6-2. Despite the loss, Frodin’s performance drew attention, with Rybakina acknowledging her opponent’s skill and resilience during the match. Frodin, hailing from California, gained recognition at the age of 12 when she appeared as a body double for actress Demi Singleton, who portrayed Serena Williams in King Richard. Now competing professionally, Frodin entered the US Open under considerable pressure, both from the high expectations of her past role and the formidable challenge posed by Rybakina, the reigning Australian Open champion. The match was affected by weather conditions, with a nearly three-hour rain delay before play resumed. However, Frodin showed determination, particularly in the second set, where she saved three match points and extended the match beyond the initial deficit. In contrast to Frodin’s debut, Italian fifth seed Flavio Cobolli staged a dramatic comeback in his opening match. Facing Francisco Comesana, Cobolli lost the first two sets, 3-6 and 2-6, before rallying to win the next three sets, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. His victory took over four hours and 12 minutes, marking a significant effort to avoid becoming another early casualty in the men’s draw. Cobolli credited a strategic adjustment after taking a bathroom break following the second set, including changing his attire, which he claimed helped him refocus and regain control of the match. Other notable performances included ninth seed Taylor Fritz, who secured a straightforward 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory over 18-year-old Darwin Blanch. Meanwhile, Madison Keys, the 22nd seed and 2017 US Open runner-up, advanced to the second round by defeating 19-year-old Alina Korneeva in a tightly contested match, 7-5, 6-4. Keys acknowledged the difficulty of facing a younger, rising talent and expressed relief at overcoming the nerves associated with her first-round Grand Slam match. Weather disruptions impacted the tournament schedule, with showers beginning on Monday night and continuing intermittently throughout the week. These conditions limited play primarily to indoor courts such as Arthur Ashe Stadium and Louis Armstrong Stadium, which feature retractable roofs. As a result, many matches were delayed or rescheduled, adding to the challenges faced by players and spectators alike. Looking ahead, several high-profile matches are scheduled for the final day of the first-round matches. Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion, will take on 17th seed Alex Eala, while men’s first seed Alexander Zverev faces his opening match. The outcomes of these encounters will provide further insight into the competitive landscape of the tournament as it progresses into the second round.