Former Serena Williams body double shocks with 11 aces, but Rybakina prevails

The girl who once served as Serena Williams' body double in the Oscar-winning film "King Richard" made a stunning impression at the US Open. Thea Frodin, 18, earned a wild card by winning the USTA Girls' 18s National Championships and faced fourth seed Elena Rybakina in the first round. Few expected her to trouble the 2026 Wimbledon champion. But in reality, Frodin fired 11 aces, nearly double Rybakina's count, turning the match into a tighter contest than anticipated. This story transcends a mere match. Frodin previously doubled for Serena in tennis scenes. On screen, she mimicked Serena's powerful serves. In real life, she replicated that against one of the WTA's best servers. "I watched her on video, but facing her in real life, I saw her true power," Rybakina said after the match. Typically, a wild-card teenager is overshadowed by a top opponent. But Frodin turned the US Open into her own stage. 11 aces is not a fluke: it demonstrates WTA-level serving ability. However, lack of experience and consistency in rallies led to her defeat. Rybakina, with 30 hard-court wins this season (tying Jessica Pegula), read Frodin's serve direction after a few games and broke decisively. Notably, Rybakina handled the pressure well. She knew that reaching the semifinals would make her world No. 1, regardless of Sabalenka's performance. In that context, facing an unknown like Frodin could be a psychological trap. But Rybakina stayed focused. "I just concentrate on each point," she said. This victory brings her closer to the top spot, while solidifying her status as a title contender. Frodin, despite the loss, left a mark. She is no longer just "the Serena body double." She is a player who can serve 11 aces at a Grand Slam. This opens doors: if she maintains form, she could break into the top 200 within six months. Her story also inspires young Vietnamese players: sometimes, opportunities come from unexpected paths. But caution is needed. One match does not define a career. Frodin must prove consistency over multiple tournaments. Meanwhile, Rybakina continues her No. 1 chase. This US Open has witnessed the rise of surprise stories, and Frodin is one of them. The court may change owners, but the nights when voices go hoarse from cheering names are never for sale. The lesson: never underestimate a young player, especially one who has doubled for a legend. And for Rybakina, she is showing she deserves the top ranking.