US OPEN

September 1, 2026

Thea Frodin

Press Conference

E. RYBAKINA/T. Frodin

6-3, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Welcome. Not the result that you wanted, but what did you gain from the experience of playing on the big court today?

THEA FRODIN: Yeah, I mean, obviously I had a tough first round. Rybakina is a great player. Yeah, I tried going out there to see what it would be like just to, I guess, feel no pressure. Yeah, just go out there and have a fun time.

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.

Yeah, I'm excited to, I guess, experience this more times, hopefully.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. You're still a junior. I'm curious on with the recent changes with NCAA and prize money, NIL, is that something that could be potentially on your radar and used as an avenue to have more appearances here? Or are you hoping to just kind of build off this and just go the pro route?

THEA FRODIN: Yeah, I mean, I think I'm trying to just finish high school, see where the rest of this year takes me. I'm not rushing into kind of making a decision with all that.

Yeah, I would say my answer to that is just I'm taking this year and next year to finish high school and then see where I am then.

Q. You hit a lot of aces out there. When people hear you at one point had played a role hitting like Serena, is there pressure you have to show some power?

THEA FRODIN: I mean, no, I feel I have always been an aggressive player. That's always been kind of my game, just to be aggressive. Obviously my height gives me the chance to serve bigger.

I feel like I usually have, you know, that kind of feeling of being more aggressive and powerful. Yeah.

Q. Have you met Serena yet? Do you know if you will have the chance to meet her?

THEA FRODIN: I actually have not met her yet. But hopefully I can get the chance soon to get the opportunity to meet her.

Q. Your story made a lot of headlines before the match. Did you get any reactions from that? Did you try to get away from that before your first Grand Slam match?

THEA FRODIN: Yeah, I mean, 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.

I feel like I did a good job of that. Obviously I saw that Will Smith reposted one of my posts, so that was pretty cool and a cool experience.

I mean, no, I would say I didn't let any of it get to me.

Q. Was there any reaction by Serena in the last five years after the movie? Did she congratulate you for what you are doing there or something like this?

THEA FRODIN: Not yet (smiling), but hopefully soon. I mean, yeah, there was obviously a lot of other things happening in that movie, so I'm sure she was caught up with that.

Yeah, no (smiling).

Q. Are you planning on playing the junior tournament next week? You're probably used to kind of being the aggressive player out there with your game. How did you feel in your match today? Were you feeling, Okay, I can just really go toe to toe with the world's biggest hitters? Was it daunting facing Rybakina in that way?

THEA FRODIN: Yeah, to answer your first question, yes, my plan is to play juniors and kind of finish the year with my last US Open.

But yeah, I mean, I think 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, because obviously she is a very aggressive player.

I think, you know, it was a fun experience to kind of see, you know, how the best players in the world, how they hit their balls and their shots. Yeah, hopefully the next time I meet her, if I do, I can be more experienced and, yeah, see what I can do.