Despite the lopsided scoreline, Frodin demonstrated significant power throughout the contest, notably outperforming her opponent in the serving department. The teenager, who previously gained recognition as the body double for the actor portraying a young Serena Williams in the 2021 film King Richard, fired 11 aces during the match. Rybakina, widely considered one of the most formidable servers on the
A challenging debut for the rising star
Frodin earned her place in the main draw by winning the USTA Billie Jean King Girls' 18s National Championships. Her performance on the Grandstand court drew vocal support from the crowd, particularly during a resilient service game late in the second set. Facing match point while trailing 5-1, Frodin hit consecutive aces to stay alive, later erasing a third match point with another powerful serve before eventually holding her serve.
Rybakina ultimately closed out the match on her fourth match point opportunity. Following the encounter, the world No. 2 acknowledged the quality of her opponent's game, stating that Frodin played well and possessed impressive shots. The victory marked Rybakina’s 30th hard-court win of the current season, a tally that ties her with American third seed Jessica Pegula for the most wins on either the men's or women's tour this year.
Tournament implications and context
For Rybakina, the win serves as a vital step in her pursuit of the world No. 1 ranking. She is currently positioned to overtake Aryna Sabalenka at the top of the rankings should she reach the semifinals, provided that the two-time defending champion does not win the tournament. Frodin’s journey to the US Open stage began with a background in junior tennis, where she secured sectional titles in singles, doubles, and mixed doubles at the 10-and-under level before her involvement in the film industry.
